Happy Birthday - 6/14

RHP Ruben Alaniz (21)
Alaniz orginally signed with the Astros as a non-drafted free agent out of McAllen, Texas in 2009. He is currently in his third season with the organization and has really made a statement in his time at Lancaster this season. In 13 starts, he is 6-2 with a 4.10 ERA, a 1.224 WHIP and 55 strikeouts to 17 walks.

RHP Alan Abreu (22)
I knew virtually nothing about Abreu other than he was playing college baseball in Florida as an outfielder when he was signed by the Astros in September 2011 as a NDFA to pitch. I found this terrific article explaining how it all came about. If this works out, it will be an amazing story.

C Brian Pena (18)
A non-drafted free agent from the Dominican Republic, Pena is in his first season with the DSL Astros. Since the DSL just recently started their season, he doesn't have much of a track record yet, but in three games, he is hitting .250/.400/.250.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

RHP Pete Munro (37)
A sixth round pick by the Red Sox in 1993, Munro came to Houston as a free agent in November of 2001. He pitched in 80 games (35 starts) from 2002 through 2004 for the Astros with a 12-16 record, a 4.49 ERA and a 1.481 WHIP.

OF John Weekly (died November 24, 1974 at 37)
Drafted in the Rule 5 draft in 1961 from the Giants, Weekly was with the Colt .45s for three seasons from 1962 to 1964, hitting .207/.293/.364 in 53 games.