Happy Birthday - 11/25

OF/2B Jimmy Paredes (24)
Originally from the Dominican Republic and signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in 2006, Jimmy Paredes came to the Astros organization in the Lance Berkman trade in 2010. A great athlete, Paredes has become a man without a position as he is currently being blocked by Jose Altuve at his natural position of second base. After playing third base for the Astros late in the 2011 season, he was moved back to second base at Oklahoma City in 2012 until a late season switch to the outfield. In 124 games with the Redhawks this season, he hit .318/.348/.477 with 28 doubles, seven triples, 13 home runs and 37 stolen bases. After a late season call-up to Houston, he hit .189/.244/.230 in 24 games. In Winter League play in the Dominican Republic this season, he is hitting .261/.299/.402 with four doubles and three home runs through 23 games, and he is playing primarily left field.

Former Astros with birthdays today

1B Rafael Batista (died October 25, 2008 at age 62)
Batista was drafted from Atlanta in the minor league draft in November 1967. In 22 games for Houston in 1973 and 1975, he hit .280/.308/.320. After his time with the Astros, Batista played in the Mexican League for nine seasons.

RHP John Johnstone (44)
Originally drafted by the Mets in the 20th round in 1987, Johnstone signed as a free agent with the Astros in December 1995. In nine appearances for the Astros in 1996, he had a 5.54 ERA and a 1.692 WHIP. His best seasons were for the Giants in 1998 and 1999 when he had a 2.87 ERA and a 1.158 WHIP in 132 appearances.

RHP Octavio Dotel (39)
Dotel came to Houston from the Mets in a December 1999 trade and pitched for the Astros from 2000 to 2004. In 302 appearances, he was 22-24 with a 3.24 ERA, 1.169 WHIP and 42 saves. Dotel went to Oakland in a three-team trade in June 2004 that brought Carlos Beltran to the Astros. Since playing with the Astros, the well-traveled Dotel has played for 11 different teams, including his latest stint for the Tigers.

Roster Moves

A couple of additional releases were on the Baseball America transactions list from yesterday that weren't on  my list from last week:

RHP Rodney Quintero
LHP Gabriel Garcia
LHP Kilby Pena

They also noted that OF J.B. Shuck and IF Matt Downs asked for and were granted their releases.

Happy Birthday - 11/25

3B/2B Jimmy Paredes (23)
Originally from the Dominican Republic and signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in 2006, Jimmy Santiago Paredes (awesome middle name) came to the Astros organization in the Lance Berkman trade in 2010.  In 93 games at Corpus, Jimmy hit .270/.300/.426/.726 before being promoted to Houston where he hit .286/.320/.393/.713.  After spending only a few weeks playing at the hot corner in the minor leagues, Jimmy took over as the starting third baseman in August.  He is currently playing in the Dominican winter league and has been playing most of his games at third base with an occasional start at second.

LHP Kilby Pena (19)
Born in Salem, Massachusetts and signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in 2009, Pena only pitched in 6 games for the GCL Astros in 2010 with poor results.  He did not pitch at all in 2011 which probably means injury issues, but I haven't been able to find any further information about him.

Former Astros with birthdays today

1B Rafael Batista (died October 25, 2008 at age 62)
Played in 22 games for Houston in 1973 and 1975 with a .280 BA

RHP John Johnstone (43)
Pitched in 9 games for Houston in 1996

RHP Octavio Dotel (38)
Pitched in Houston from 2000 to 2004
22-24 with a 3.24 ERA, 1.169 WHIP and 42 saves over 449 IP