Happy Birthday - 11/1

Happy Birthday to ~

3B Jonathan Meyer (24)
Drafted as a third round supplemental pick in 2009 out of high school in California, Meyer split his 2014 season between the Oklahoma City team and the Corpus Christi team, hitting a combined .215/.274/.280 with 13 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 51 RBI over 120 games.

RHP Frederick Tiburcio (24)
A non-drafted free agent from the Dominican Republic, Tiburcio pitched all but one of his games for Quad Cities (with a spot appearance in Oklahoma City). In 28 bullpen appearances, he was 4-3 with a 2.91 ERA, a 1.154 WHIP and seven saves.

RHP Anthony Bass (27)
Originally drafted by the Padres in the fifth round in 2008, Bass came to Houston in a trade for Astros Rule 5 pick Patrick Schuster. In 21 bullpen appearances for the Astros, he was 1-1 with a 6.33 ERA, 1.444 WHIP and two saves. In the minors, he was 0-2 with a 2.66 ERA, a 1.131 WHIP and one save in 17 appearances.

Three former Astros mark the day as well ~

RHP Rhiner Cruz (28)
Initially signed by the Tigers as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2003, Cruz was drafted from the Mets in the December 2011 Rule 5 draft. In 72 appearances for the Astros in 2012 and 2013, Cruz was 1-3 with a 5.31 ERA and a 1.703 WHIP. He most recently played for Rakuten in the Japan Pacific League.

RHP Russ Kemmerer (83)
Kemmerer came to Houston in a trade with the White Sox in June 1962. In a total of 53 appearances for the Colt .45's in 1962 and 1963, he was 5-3 with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.366 WHIP.

OF Howie Goss (died July 31, 1996 at 61)

Goss came to Houston from the Pirates in April 1963 and played in 133 games for the 1963 Colt .45's with a .209/.264/.328.

Happy Birthday - 11/1

Happy Birthday to ~

RHP Rhiner Cruz (27)
Initially signed by the Tigers as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2003, Cruz was drafted from the Mets in the December 2011 Rule 5 draft. Cruz split his 2013 season between Oklahoma City and Houston. In 37 appearances for the RedHawks, he had an ERA of 4.75 and a WHIP of 1.584. Those appearances were bookended by 20 appearances in Houston where he had a 3.38 ERA and a 1.688 WHIP.

3B Jonathan Meyer (23)
Drafted as a third round supplemental pick in 2009 out of high school in California, Meyer spent his 2013 season with the AA Corpus Christi team, hitting .260/.318/.403 with 24 doubles, 15 home runs and 68 RBI. He is currently playing with the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.

RHP Frederick Tiburcio (23)
A non-drafted free agent from the Dominican Republic, Tiburcio is in his fifth season in the organization. He spent his 2013 season in Greeneville with good results. In 12 games (11 starts), he was 3-2 with a 2.43 ERA and a 1.096 WHIP.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

RHP Russ Kemmerer (82)
Kemmerer came to Houston in a trade with the White Sox in June 1962. In a total of 53 appearances for the Colt .45's in 1962 and 1963, he was 5-3 with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.366 WHIP.

OF Howie Goss (died July 31, 1996 at 61)

Goss came to Houston from the Pirates in April 1963 and played in 133 games for the 1963 Colt .45's with a .209/.264/.328.

Happy Birthday - 11/1

RHP Rhiner Cruz (26)
Initially signed by the Tigers as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2003, Cruz was drafted from the Mets in the December 2011 Rule 5 draft. In 52 appearances for the Astros in 2012, Cruz had an ERA of 6.05 and a WHIP of 1.709. But that's not the whole story. Like much of the Astros bullpen, Cruz was effective early in the season and late in the season. In between? Not so much. In April, May and August through October, his ERA was 3.13 and his WHIP was 1.473. In June and July? 12.46 ERA and 2.250 WHIP.

3B Jonathan Meyer (22)
Drafted as a third round supplemental pick in 2009 out of high school in California, Meyer spent his second season with Lancaster in 2012, hitting .272/.315/.375 with 24 doubles, two triples and eight home runs. Like  many of his Lancaster teammates, his hot bat helped he JetHawks get to the playoffs as he hit .350/.409/.600 with four doubles, two home runs and 13 RBI in his final 10 regular season games. He carried that into the playoffs, hitting .343 with three doubles, two home runs, a stolen base and 10 RBI.

RHP Frederick Tiburcio (22)
A non-drafted free agent from the Dominican Republic, Tiburcio is in his fourth season in the organiztion. He spent 2011 with the GCL Astros and 2012 with the Greeneville Astros with remarkably similar results.

2011 - 12 games (10 starts), 3-5 record, 4.47 ERA, 1.399 WHIP, 54-1/3 IP
2012 - 12 games (11 starts), 3-5 record, 4.47 ERA, 1.354 WHIP, 58-1/3 IP

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

RHP Russ Kemmerer (81)
Kemmerer came to Houston in a trade with the White Sox in June 1962. In a total of 53 appearances for the Colt .45's in 1962 and 1963, he was 5-3 with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.366 WHIP.

OF Howie Goss (died July 31, 1996 at 61)
Goss came to Houston from the Pirates in April 1963 and played in 133 games for the 1963 Colt .45's with a .209/.264/.328.

Happy Birthday - 11/1

3B Jonathan Meyer (21)
Drafted in the 3rd round supplemental in 2009 out of high school in California, Meyer has moved up a level each year, playing the 2011 season at Lancaster.  His batting line for 2011 was .264/.343/.399/.742 with 23 doubles and 14 home runs.  In August and September, he really heated things up with a .307 BA.

RHP Frederick Tiburcio (21)
A non-drafted free agent from the Dominican Republic, Tiburcio spent two seasons in the DSL before graduating to the GCL Astros in 2011.  In 12 games (10 starts), he went 3-5 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.399 WHIP.  He improved toward the end of the season to 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.300 WHIP in August.

Former Astros with birthdays today

RHP Russ Kemmerer (80)
Pitched in 53 games for the Colt 45's in 1962 and 1963.

OF Howie Goss (died July 31, 1996 at 61)
Played for the 1963 Colt 45's