Happy Birthday - 7/15

Happy Birthday to ~

RHP Mark Appel (22)
Drafted by Houston as the number one overall draft pick in 2013 out of Stanford, Appel is currently making the tour of the Astros minor league ballparks as the organization slowly acclimates him to professional baseball. In three starts (nine innings) between Tri-City and Quad Cities, Appel has a 2.00 ERA and a 1.000 WHIP. He has walked one and struck out nine.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

C Dave Adlesh (70)
Adlesh was signed by the Colt .45's as an amateur free agent in 1963 and played a handful of games over six seasons (from 1963 to 1968) for Houston. In 106 games, he hit .168/.227/.199. He was 19 years old when he started playing for the Colt .45's in 1963.

C Kirt Manwaring (48)
A second round pick by the Giants in 1986, Manwaring came to Houston in a July 1996 trade and spent only 37 games as an Astro, hitting .220/.264/.256. With the Giants, he earned a Gold Glove in 1993 and led the National League in caught stealing percentage in 1992 and 1993 with a 50.5% and 45.9% respectively.

RHP Fernando Nieve (31)
An amateur free agent signed out of Venezuela by Houston in 1999, Nieve pitched in 51 games for Houston in 2006 and 2008 before being picked up off waivers by the Mets in March of 2009. In those 51 games (11 starts), he was 3-4 with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.374 WHIP. He once again signed with the Astros in March 2011 but was released a month later. He is currently playing for Cleveland's AAA team.

CF Reggie Abercrombie (32)
A 23rd round pick by the Dodgers in 1999, Abercrombie was selected by Houston off waivers from the Marlins in October of 2007. He played in 34 games for Houston in 2008, hitting .309/.339/.539. He has spent the last two seasons playing in the Mexican League.

RHP David Carpenter (28)
Originally drafted by the Cardinals in the 12th round in 2006 out of West Virginia University, Carpenter came to Houston in an August 2010 trade with St. Louis for Pedro Feliz. In 65 games for Houston in 2011 and 2012, he was 1-5 with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.709 WHIP. He was included in the 10-player July 2012 trade with the Blue Jays. He is currently pitching for Atlanta with good success. In 21 appearances out of the bullpen, he is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and a 1.179 WHIP.