Happy Birthday - 3/5

Happy Birthday to ~

C Hayden Timberlake (19)
Signed out of Queensland, Australia in July 2013, Timberlake played his first professional season in the Dominican Summer League. In 22 games, he hit .188/.303/.250 and caught 50% (16 of 32) of would-be base stealers.

OF L.J. Hoes (25)
Originally drafted by Baltimore in the third round in 2008, Hoes came to Houston in the July 2013 trade that sent Bud Norris to Baltimore. In 35 games in Oklahoma City, he hit .397/.381/.391 and in 55 games for Houston .172/.230/.287.

Two former Astros celebrate today as well ~

LHP Erik Bedard (36)
Born in Ontario, Bedard was drafted by the Orioles in the sixth round in 1999 and came to Houston as a free agent in January 2013. In 32 games (26 starts) for the Astros in 2013, Bedard was 4-12 with a 4.59 ERA and a 1.483 WHIP. Bedard played with Tampa Bay in 2014 until his release on August 3rd.

CF Brian Hunter (44)
A second round draft pick for the Astros in 1989, Brian started his major league career in Houston (1994-1996) and ended it in Houston (2002-2003), but played for five other teams in between. He had a .278/.314/.377 batting line in 370 games for Houston. His best season at the plate was 1995 when he hit .302 in 78 games. Per Baseball-Reference, he was part of this trade to Detroit in December of 1996:

December 10, 1996: Traded by the Houston Astros with Doug Brocail, Todd Jones, Orlando Miller and cash to the Detroit Tigers for Brad Ausmus, Jose Lima, Trever Miller, C.J. Nitkowski and Daryle Ward.

He led the American League in stolen bases in 1997 and 1999.

Happy Birthday - 3/5

Happy Birthday to ~

C Hayden Timberlake (18)
Signed out of Queensland, Australia in July 2013, Timberlake has not yet made his professional debut.

OF L.J. Hoes (24)
Originally drafted by Baltimore in the third round in 2008, Hoes came to Houston in the July 2013 trade that sent Bud Norris to Baltimore. In 46 games with the Astros after the trade, he hit .287/.337/.371.

Two former Astros celebrate today as well ~

LHP Erik Bedard (35)
Born in Ontario, Bedard was drafted by the Orioles in the sixth round in 1999 and came to Houston as a free agent in January 2013. In 32 games (26 starts) for the Astros in 2013, Bedard was 4-12 with a 4.59 ERA and a 1.483 WHIP. Bedard recently signed with Tampa Bay.

CF Brian Hunter (43)
A second round draft pick for the Astros in 1989, Brian started his major league career in Houston (1994-1996) and ended it in Houston (2002-2003), but played for five other teams in between. He had a .278/.314/.377 batting line in 370 games for Houston. His best season at the plate was 1995 when he hit .302 in 78 games. Per Baseball-Reference, he was part of this trade to Detroit in December of 1996:

December 10, 1996: Traded by the Houston Astros with Doug Brocail, Todd Jones, Orlando Miller and cash to the Detroit Tigers for Brad Ausmus, Jose Lima, Trever Miller, C.J. Nitkowski and Daryle Ward.

He led the American League in stolen bases in 1997 and 1999.

Happy Birthday - 3/5

Happy Birthday to ~

LHP Erik Bedard (34)
Born in Ontario, Bedard was drafted by the Orioles in the sixth round in 1999 and made his debut for Baltimore in 2002. Over nine seasons in the major leagues with Baltimore, Seattle, Boston and Pittsburgh, Bedard has a 63-64 record with a 3.85 ERA and a 1.335 WHIP. He was signed as a free agent by the Astros to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training in January 2013.

One former Astro with a birthday today ~

CF Brian Hunter (42)
A second round draft pick for the Astros in 1989, Brian started his major league career in Houston (1994-1996) and ended it in Houston (2002-2003), but played for five other teams in between. He had a .278/.314/.377 batting line in 370 games for Houston. His best season at the plate was 1995 when he hit .302 in 78 games. Per Baseball-Reference, he was part of this trade to Detroit in December of 1996:

December 10, 1996: Traded by the Houston Astros with Doug Brocail, Todd Jones, Orlando Miller and cash to the Detroit Tigers for Brad Ausmus, Jose Lima, Trever Miller, C.J. Nitkowski and Daryle Ward.

He led the American League in stolen bases in 1997 and 1999.

Happy Birthday - 3/5

LHP Steven Dennison (23)
Dennison was drafted by the Marlins in 2010 and failed to sign so the Astros picked him up as a NDFA in 2011.  The big (6'7" 225 lbs.) lefty made 14 appearances for the GCL Astros in 2011 with an 0-1 record, a 3.93 ERA and a 1.582 WHIP.  He struggled in June, but in July and August he improved to a 2.30 ERA and a 1.404 WHIP.  Dennison is the son of Texans offensive coordinator and former Broncos linebacker Rick Dennison.

1B/3B Mike Hessman (34)
Originally drafted by Atlanta in the 15th round in 1996, Hessman signed a minor league contract as a free agent with the Astros February 2, 2012.  He has played parts of 5 seasons in the major leagues, most recently with the Mets in 2010.  He played in Japan in 2011.

One former Astro with a birthday today ~

CF Brian Hunter (41)
A second draft round pick for the Astros, Brian started his major league career in Houston (1994-1996) and ended it in Houston (2002-2003), but played for five other teams in between.  He had a .278/.314/.377/.691 batting line in 370 games for Houston.  His best season at the plate was 1995 when he hit .302 in 78 games.  Per Baseball-Reference, he was part of this trade to Detroit in December of 1996:

December 10, 1996: Traded by the Houston Astros with Doug Brocail, Todd Jones, Orlando Miller and cash to the Detroit Tigersfor Brad Ausmus, Jose Lima, Trever Miller, C.J. Nitkowski and Daryle Ward.

He led the American League in stolen bases in 1997 and 1999.