Happy Birthday - 3/24

RHP Josh Zeid (26)
Drafted by the Phillies in the 10th round in 2009 from Tulane, Zeid came to Houston as part of the Hunter Pence trade in July 2011. Zeid spent the 2012 season with the Corpus Christi AA team. In 47 appearnces, he was 2-0 with a 5.59 ERA and a 1.367 WHIP. Zeid proudly represented Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic Qualifier last fall.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

OF Jesus Alou (71)
Alou originally came to Houston as a part of the Rusty Staub trade with the Expos in January of 1969 and spent 1969 through part of the 1973 season with Houston and returned to the team for the 1978 and 1979 seasons as well. In 553 games for Houston, he hit .282/.313/.366. He spent all or parts of 15 seasons in the major leagues playing for four different teams, including the 1973 and 1974 World Series champion Oakland teams. He is the brother of Felipe and Matty Alou and uncle to Moises Alou.

RHP Jose Cabrera (41)
Acquired in a trade with Cleveland in May 1997, Cabrera pitched in 93 games over four seasons for Houston with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.302 WHIP before being claimed off waivers by Atlanta in April of 2001.  He had his most successful season in the majors for Atlanta that year, going 7-4 in 55 games with a 2.88 ERA and a 1.298 WHIP. After one final season in the majors with Milwaukee in 2002, he kept playing in the minors, in independent ball and in Mexico.  In 2012, at age 40, he pitched in 30 games for Tobasco in the Mexican League, going 1-0 with 23 saves, a 1.14 ERA and a 0.663 WHIP.

RHP Jose "Papa Grande" Valverde (35)
Acquired in a trade with Arizona for Chris Burke, Juan Gutierrez and Chad Qualls in December 2007, Valverde pitched for Houston for two seasons, going 10-5 with 69 saves, a 2.93 ERA and a 1.159 WHIP.  A three-time All-Star for Arizona and Detroit, he was the league leader in saves three times as well. He is currently a free agent.