Happy Birthday - 8/31

C Marlon Avea (20)
From Nicaragua, Marlon was signed by the Astros as a NDFA in 2010 and played his third season this year in the DSL. Over 52 games, he hit .225/.353/.324. Against lefties, he hit a brisk .339/.431/.429. He caught 44 of 90 would-be base stealers, a 49% caught stealing rate.

One former Astro with a birthday today ~

RHP Tom Dukes (71)
Dukes came to Houston via a trade with Atlanta prior to the 1967 season. In 60 appearances out of the bullpen in 1967 and 1968, he was 2-4 with a 4.60 ERA and a 1.651 WHIP. He was subsequently picked up by the Padres in the 1968 expansion draft.