Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Happy Birthday - 11/18

Happy Birthday to ~

C Richard Gonzalez (21)
Drafted in the 29th round in 2014 out of Alabama State University, this native of Puerto Rico spent the vast majority of his first professional season in the Gulf Coast League with a late promotion to Greeneville for his final four appearances of the season. In 33 total games, he hit .207/.339/.293 and had a 29% caught stealing rate.

Numerous former Astros celebrate the day as well ~

OF Travis Buck (31)
Originally drafted by Oakland in the first round in 2005, Buck signed with Houston as a free agent in November 2011. Buck spent 33 games with the Astros in 2012, hitting .216/.284/.311. Buck has played in the San Diego minor league system for the last two seasons.

RHP Gil Rondon (61)
Originally drafted by the Orioles in the third round in 1973, Rondon was drafted by Houston from the Angels in the Rule 5 draft in 1975. In 19 games (seven starts) for the Astros in 1976, he was 2-2 with a 5.70 ERA and a 2.031 WHIP.

C Luis Pujols (59)
Signed by Houston as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1973, Pujols played in 311 games for the Astros from 1977 to 1983, hitting .192/.239/.259. In 2014, Pujols managed the Orioles minor league High A team in the Carolina League.

RHP Jeff Heathcock (55)
A first round pick by the Astros in 1980, Heathcock pitched in 56 games (13 starts) for Houston in 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with a 9-9 record, a 3.76 ERA and a 1.190 WHIP.

LF Steve Henderson (62)
Originally drafted by the Reds in the fifth round in 1974, Henderson came to Houston as a free agent in March 1988. In 42 games for the Astros that season, he hit .217/.321/.261. In his debut year of 1977 with the Mets, Henderson came in second to Andre Dawson in Rookie of the Year voting. His career batting line over 12 seasons was .280/.352/.413. In 2014, he was the hitting coach for the Phillies.

C Eddie "Scooter" Tucker (48)
A fifth round pick by the Giants in 1988, the Astros claimed Tucker off waivers from San Francisco in September 1991. In 34 games played for Houston in 1992, 1993 and 1995, he hit .157/.222/.217. He managed the Carolina Mudcats, the Cleveland High A affiliate, in 2014.

RHP Tom "Flash" Gordon (47)
Originally drafted by the Royals in the sixth round in 1986, Gordon came to Houston in an August 2002 trade with the Cubs. In 15 appearances for the Astros in 2002, he had a 3.32 ERA and a 1.105 WHIP. Gordon pitched in 21 major league seasons for eight different teams. In 1989 while pitching for the Royals, he came in second to Baltimore's Gregg Olson in Rookie of the Year Voting. He was a three-time All-Star for the Red Sox, the Yankees and the Phillies.

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