Happy Birthday - 12/21

Happy Birthday to ~

C Pedro Coa (21)
Signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela, Coa appeared in 26 games for the Gulf Coast League Astros in 2013, hitting .133/.232/.167. He only appeared in eight games for the Tiburones in the Liga Paralela in Venezuela this winter, but hit a robust .387/.387/.516 in his limited time with the team.

RHP Asher Wojciechowski (25)
A first round pick by Toronto in 2010, Wojciechowski came to the Astros in the July 2012 10-player trade with the Blue Jays. Wojo split his 2013 season between Corpus Christi and Oklahoma City, compiling a combined 11-8 record with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.150 WHIP in 28 appearances (24 starts).

LHP David Rollins (24)
Drafted by Toronto in the 24th round in 2011, Rollins also came to Houston in the big July 2012 trade with the Blue Jays. Rollins spent the bulk of his season with the Lancaster team before a late season promotion to Corpus Christi. He even made a very successful spot start in Oklahoma City. In 30 appearances (20 starts), Rollins was 9-8 with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.210 WHIP. He walked 43 batters while striking out 137 in 136+ innings.

2B Austin "Catfish" Elkins (23)
A 19th round pick out of Dallas Baptist by Houston in the 2012 draft, Elkins spent his second professional season with Quad Cities. In 110 games, he hit .234/.368/.350. He walked 67 times while striking out 70.

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 (61)
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 (41)
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 19 seasons for ten different teams with the latest being the Mets in 2013. He signed with the Rockies as a free agent in November shortly after he did this.

RHP Philip Humber (31)
Originally drafted by the Mets in the first round in 2004, Humber was claimed by the Astros off waivers from the White Sox in November 2012. In 17 appearances (seven starts) with the Astros in 2013, Humber went 0-8 with a 7.90 ERA and a 1.738 WHIP, a far cry from the perfect game he threw for the White Sox on April 21, 2012. Humber signed with Oakland as a free agent in October.