Happy Birthday - 8/24

2B Enrique Hernandez (21)
Drafted in the 6th Round in 2009 out of the American Military Academy in Puerto Rico, Hernandez spent most of the season with Hi-A Lancaster before a recent call-up to Corpus Christi. At Lancaster, he hit .275/.318/.418 in 100 games. In 12 games for Corpus Christi, he is hitting .250/.298/.341 and .306/.359/.417 over his last 10. This recent interview with Kiké will tell you a little more about him.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

LHP Hal Woodeshick (died June 14, 2009 at 76)
Woodeshick came to Houston from Detroit in October 1961 and played for the Colt .45's and Astros until he was traded to the Cardinals in June of 1965. In 174 games, he was 21-38 with a 3.16 ERA and a 1.324 WHIP. He was an All-Star for Houston in 1963 when he was 11-9 in 55 appearances with a 1.97 ERA and a 1.026 WHIP. He led the National League in saves in 1964.

RHP Dean Wilkins (46)
Originally drafted by the Yankees in the second round in 1986, Wilkins was picked up by Houston from the Cubs in the Rule 5 draft in December 1990. He pitched in seven games (eight total innings) for the Astros in 1991 with a 2-1 record, a 11.25 ERA and a 3.250 WHIP.

RHP Mike Grzanich (40)
A ninth round pick by the Astros in 1992, Grzanich's entire MLB career consisted of one inning pitched for the Astros in 1998. He retired from baseball with a major league ERA of 18.00 and WHIP of 3.000. It's not often you get a blow-by-blow description of one professional inning pitched, but this is the exception.

RHP Kip Gross (48)
Originally drafted by the Mets in the fourth round in 1986, Gross signed with Houston as a free agent prior to the 2000 season. He pitched four and a third innings in two games with an 0-1 record, a 10.38 ERA and a 2.538 WHIP.