Happy Birthday - 12/21

Happy Birthday to ~

C Pedro Coa (20)
Signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela, Coa spent his second season with the DSL Astros and really showed improvement over his first, hitting .256/.320/.311 in 37 games. He was one of the few offensive bright spots on the DSL team and also showed good selectivity at the plate. He only struck out five times all season and only struck out twice (to five walks) in 22 games in July and August.

RHP Asher Wojciechowski (24)
A first round pick by Toronto in 2010, Wojciechowski came to the Astros in the July 2012 10-player trade with the Blue Jays and made himself right at home. In eight starts with Corpus Christi after the trade, he was 2-2 with a 2.06 ERA and a 1.008WHIP. For the season, he was 9-5 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.146 WHIP.

LHP David Rollins (23)
Drafted by Toronto in the 24th round in 2011, Rollins also came to Houston in the big July 2012 trade. Following the trade, Rollins was 1-3 in six starts in Lexington with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.161 WHIP. For the season, he was 7-4 with a 2.98 ERA and a 1.252 WHIP.

SS Austin "Catfish" Elkins (22)
A 19th round pick out of Dallas Baptist by Houston in the 2012 draft, Elkins spent his first professional season with Tri-City. In 66 games, he hit .272/.360/.398 with 13 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 18 stolen bases. A switch-hitter, Elkins had almost identical numbers from both sides of the plate.

RHP Phillip Humber (30)
Originally drafted by the Mets in the first round in 2004, Humber was claimed by the Astros off waivers from the White Sox at the end of November. In the last two seasons with the White Sox, Humber compiled a 14-14 record with a 4.79 ERA and a 1.317 WHIP in 54 appearances (42 starts). On April 21, 2012, he threw a perfect game against the Mariners in his second start of the season.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

RHP Howie Reed (died December 7, 1984 at 47)
Reed came to Houston in an October 1966 trade with the Angels. In four games (two starts) for the Astros in 1967, he was 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.145 WHIP. His best season was 1965 when he played for the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

RHP Joaquin Andujar (60)
Andujar first came to Houston in an October 1975 trade with the Reds and pitched for the Astros from 1976 to 1981 and again in 1988.  In 202 games with the Astros, he had a 3.67 ERA and a 1.377 WHIP.  He was an All-Star with Houston in 1977 and 1979. Andujar made two additional All-Star appearances and won a Gold Glove with the Cardinals, and he earned his one World Series ring with them  in 1982.

RHP LaTroy Hawkins (40)
Originally drafted by Minnesota in the seventh round in 1991, Hawkins came to Houston in a July 2008 trade with the Yankees. In 89 appearances for Houston in 2008 and 2009, he was 3-4 with a 1.71 ERA and a 1.091 WHIP. He has currently pitched 18 seasons for nine different teams with the latest being the Angels in 2012. He is currently a free agent.