Happy Birthday - 12/14

Happy Birthday to ~

SS Wilson Amador (18)
Amador signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in July 2013. In his first professional season in the Dominican Summer League in 2014, he hit .245/.349/.302.

C Carlos Canelon (20)
An international free agent out of Venezuela, Canelon also played his first season in the DSL, hitting .181/.300/.202 in 32 games. He caught 38% of would-be base stealers.

3B Connor Goedert (21)
Drafted in the 15th round in 2014, Goedert split his time between Greeneville and the GCL, hitting .157/.245/.201 in 38 games.

RHP John Gatlin (24)
Gatlin was signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in 2014. At Ole Miss, Gatlin was an infielder by trade, but was converted to pitcher (something he hadn't done since junior college). In 13 games for the Gulf Coast League Astros, Gatlin had a 1.29 ERA and a 1.663 WHIP.

Two former Astros celebrate the day as well ~

2B Craig Biggio (49)
A first round pick by Houston in 1987, Biggio played his entire career for the Astros from 1988 to 2007. He played in 2850 games and had 3060 hits, 668 doubles, 55 triples, 291 home runs, 1175 RBI, 414 stolen bases, and 285 HBP. His lifetime batting line was .281/.363/.433. He won five Silver Slugger awards, four Gold Glove awards and appeared in seven All-Star games. He is in his third year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame, having missed induction by only TWO VOTES the last go around. If he doesn't make the cut in 2015, there may very well be a few torches and pitchforks outside some BBWAA voters' homes.

RHP Rodrigo Rosario (37)
Signed as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1996, Rosario pitched in two starts in 2003 with an ERA of 1.13 and a WHIP of 1.000. He suffered a major injury in his second major league start and never pitched again professionally.

Also, a Happy Birthday to friend of the blog, Lee Street, the one attorney I know who would defend me pro bono (or at least provide me with an alibi) if I ever happened to be accused (unjustly, of course) of leaving a flaming bag of dog poo on the doorstep of a certain baseball commissioner.