Happy Birthday - 3/11

IF Max Ayarza (20)
A non-drafted free agent from Panama, Ayarza spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons in the DSL before graduating to the the GCL Astros in 2011.  In 23 games with the GCL, he only managed a .148 batting average despite hitting a much more respectable .260 the prior year.

RHP Alexander Martinez (19)
Originally from Nicaragua, Martinez has spent the last two seasons pitching in the DSL after being signed as a non-drafted free agent.  In 2011, he had a 7.00 ERA and a 1.852 WHIP in 27 innings pitched over 16 games.  One good sign for Martinez is that his SO:BB went from 5SO:17BB over 12.2 IP in 2010 to 17SO:14BB over 27IP in 2011.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

2B/OF Chris Burke (32)
A first round draft pick for the Astros in 2001, Burke hit .249/.319/.377/.697 in 359 games for Houston from 2004 to 2007.  At AAA in 2004, he hit .315/.396/.507/.903 but was being blocked at 2B by Craig Biggio.  In December of 2007, he was included in a trade to Arizona for Jose Valverde.  Chris Burke will always be remembered by Astros fans for this moment in the 2005 NLDS Game 4 18-inning marathon.

CF Cesar Geronimo (64)
Obtained by the Astros from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft in 1968, Geronimo spent three seasons with Houston from 1969 to 1971, hitting .228/.272/.307/.579 before being included in the Joe Morgan trade to the Reds in November of 1971.  He went on to earn four Gold Gloves for Cincinnati.  His best year at the plate was 1976 when he hit .307 in the regular season and .308 in the World Series for the Reds.

RF Bobby Abreu (38)
Abreu played in 79 games for Houston at the start of his career before being drafted by Tampa Bay in the expansion draft and quickly flipped to the Phillies.  He maintained a .303 batting average for Philadelphia over 9 seasons while collecting a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger and two All-Star nods.  He led the National League in triples in 1999 and in doubles in 2002 before moving to the American League, playing first for the Yankees and most recently for the Angels.

RF Larry Ray (54)
A 4th round pick by the Astros in 1979, Ray got one hit and one RBI in his cup of coffee with Houston in 1982.