Happy Birthday - 6/8

C Roberto Pena (21)
Pena was drafted by Houston in the seventh round in 2010 out of Puerto Rico. He ended the 2012 season playing for the California League Champion JetHawks, but he is back at Low A Quad Cities to start the 2013 season as he works on getting his bat to catch up with his superior defensive abilities. In 37 games, he is hitting .284/.333/.390 and has a caught stealing percentage of 59% this season (40% during his minor league career).

RHP Gerado Sanchez (24)
A native of New Mexico, Gera Sanchez was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2012 and played for the GCL in his first season. This season, Sanchez has appeared in 13 games out of the bullpen at Quad Cities so far this season with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.151 WHIP. He has struck out 27 batters in 24 and a third innings while walking only five.

GM Jeff Luhnow (47)
Jeff Luhnow became the 12th General Manager in franchise history on December 7, 2011 (a day which will not live in infamy) after spending nine seasons in the Cardinals organization. Luhnow has Bachelor degrees in Economics and Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Northwestern. He was born and raised in Mexico City. His parents, U.S. Citizens, relocated from New York to Mexico to run a publishing business. Luhnow attended an American school and holds a dual nationality. Naturally, the chronic overachiever is fluent in Spanish as well. He attended his first major league games as a child in the Astrodome. That's about the only thing I have in common with him.

Last year, I asked Jeff to tell me something about himself that most people don't know. He was generous enough to answer my question, and one of his answers had to do with holding two patents. Again, overachiever!!! His other answer, however, was one I could get behind. He completed an accelerated free fall program and jumped out of a plane at 12,000 feet. Ha!!! So did I! Except I jumped out between 10,000 and 11,000 feet ... even on that, he's an overachiever.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

LHP George Brunet (Died October 25, 1991 at 56)
Brunet came to Houston in a trade with the Milwaukee Braves. In 22 games for the Colt .45's in 1962 and 1963, he was 2-7 with a 5.00 ERA and a 1.695 WHIP. He spent six seasons with the California Angels where he was 54-69 with a 3.13 ERA and a 1.202 WHIP. After his major league career was over, he played in the Mexican League for 13 years, finally retiring at 50.

RHP Dave Mlicki (45)
A 17th round pick by Cleveland in 1990, Mlicki came to Houston in June of 2001 in a trade with the Tigers for Jose Lima. He spent the final two years of his career pitching in 41 games in Houston, going 11-13 with a 5.21 ERA and a 1.465 WHIP.