Happy Birthday - 10/14

OF Jarrod McKinney (23)
Originally from Hughes Springs, Texas (which I determined is pretty much precisely in the middle of nowhere near the Arkansas and Louisiana borders), McKinney was drafted in the 31st round in 2011 out of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.  In 48 games for Tri-City this season, he hit .224/.312/.360.

Former Astros with birthdays today:

RHP Alberto Arias (29)
From the Dominican Republic, he was originally signed as a NDFA by Colorado and was picked up by Houston in 2008 as a waiver claim. In 45 appearances for Houston in 2008 and 2009, Arias had a 3.86 ERA and a 1.584 WHIP.

SS,2B Kiko Garcia (59)
Originally drafted by the Orioles in the third round in 1971, Garcia came to Houston in an April 1981 trade with Baltimore. In 82 games for the Astros in 1981 and 1982, Garcia hit .250/.295/.325.

C Carl Nichols (50)
A fourth round pick by Baltimore in 1980, Nichols came to Houston in a March 1989 trade and played for the Astros for three seasons, from 1989 to 1991. In 60 games, he hit .186/.271/.239. After his retirement, he coached at the Urban Youth Academy in Compton, California.

IF Dave Hajek (45)
Signed by Houston as an amateur free agent in 1989, Hajek got a couple of cups of coffee as he played in a total of 13 games for the Astros in 1995 and 1996, hitting .250/.400/.333. In 10 minor league seasons, he hit  .301/.344/.408. In 2012, he was a minor league infield coordinator for the Rockies.