Happy Birthday - 5/6

2B Jose Altuve (22)
Altuve was first signed by the Astros as a free agent out of Venezuela in 2007 and played on the Astros Venezuelan Summer League team that year. After starting in Greeneville in 2008, Altuve rapidly moved up the ranks until his major league debut in July of 2011. A minor league career .327 hitter (.389 at HiA and AA in 2011), Altuve has shown no signs of slowing down at the plate.  Over his first 25 games of 2012, Altuve is hitting .360/.404/.550 for Houston.  I look forward to seeing Altuve continue to prove that he's not a novelty act despite his 5'5" frame.

RHP Tomas Lopez (18)
The Astros signed Lopez over the winter and he is slated to play in the Dominican Summer League this year.  Here is what DPLBaseball.com had to say about the young righty.

One former Astro with a birthday today ~

RHP Larry Andersen (59)
Originally drafted by Cleveland in the seventh round in 1971, Andersen came to Houston as a free agent in 1986. In five seasons with the Astros, he pitched in 268 games going 22-16 with a 2.57 ERA and a 1.211 WHIP. Andersen was known for his sense of humor and his Steven Wright style one-liners. According to this post, Andersen was the instigator of the SNL-inspired conehead masks sported by Andersen, Charley Kerfeld and Dave Smith. Andersen is best known (and loved) by Astros fans for being part of the most lopsided trade in baseball history as he was traded to the Red Sox for future Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell.