Happy Birthday - 12/27

Happy Birthday to ~

RHP Tyson Perez (24)
Drafted in the 17th round in 2011 out of Fresno Community College, Perez appeared in 37 games (12 starts) for the Advanced A Lancaster JetHawks in 2013. In 112+ innings pitched, he was 4-5 with a 5.85 ERA and a 1.647 WHIP. As a reliever, Perez had a 4.29 ERA and a 1.302 WHIP.

RHP Patrick Christensen (23)
A 2013 27th round draft pick out of LaSalle University (Philadelphia), Christensen split his first professional season between Tri-City and Quad Cities, putting up a combined 2.57 ERA and a 1.000 WHIP. He walked only three batters in 28 innings pitched while striking out 38.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

1B Norm Larker (died March 12, 2007 at 76)
Drafted from the Dodgers in the 1961 expansion draft, Larker played in 147 games for the Colt .45's in 1962, hitting .263/.358/.374. Larker was an All-Star for the Dodgers in 1960 and won a World Series with that team in 1959.

OF Byron Browne (71)
Browne came to the Astros in a May 1968 trade with the Cubs and played in only 10 games for Houston that season, hitting .231/.412/.231, before being purchased by the Cardinals in February 1969.

CF Michael Bourn (31)
Originally drafted by the Phillies in the fourth round in 2003, Bourn came to Houston as part of the November 2007 trade that sent Brad Lidge to the Phillies. In 541 games played for the Astros from 2008 to 2011, Bourn hit .271/.337/.359 with 193 stolen bases. He won Gold Gloves in 2009 and 2010 for Houston and was an All-Star in 2010. In July 2011, he was traded to Atlanta where he earned another All-Star bid in 2012. He is currently with the Cleveland Indians.

SS Craig Reynolds (61)
A first round pick by the Pirates in 1971, Reynolds came to the Astros in a December 1978 trade with the Mariners. In 1170 games played for Houston from 1979 to 1989, he hit .252/.286/.345. Reynolds was an All-Star in 1978 for Seattle and in 1979 for Houston.

LHP Nate Bland (39)
Originally drafted by the Dodgers in the fourth round in 1993, Bland was drafted by Houston from the Mets in the December 2002 rule 5 draft. In 22 appearances for the Astros in 2003, he had a 5.75 ERA and a 1.672 WHIP.