Happy Birthday - 7/19

Wishing a Very Happy Birthday to WTHB's own Dustin who writes the best Astros minor league recaps that money can buy ... for free. Writing the recaps is a thankless job, but I thank him from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful job he does. Happy Birthday, Dustin! This one's for you ...

No future Astros with birthdays today, but a trio of former Astros celebrate the day ~

RHP Wilton Lopez (31)
Originally signed by the Yankees as a NDFA out of Nicaragua, Lopez was selected off waivers from the Padres in April 2009. In 213 games for the Astros from 2009 through 2012, Lopez had a 13-13 record with a 3.14 ERA, a 1.207 WHIP and 11 saves. He was traded, along with Jose Monzon, to the Rockies for Alex White and Alex Gillingham in December 2012. He was the 11th Nicaraguan national to make it to the U.S. major leagues.

CF Preston Wilson (40)
Originally drafted by the Mets in the first round in 1992, Wilson came to Houston as a free agent in January 2006 and was released in August of that year after hitting .269/.309/.405 in 102 games. In 1999, he was second in Rookie of the Year voting to Reds pitcher Scott Williamson. In 2003, Wilson was an All-Star for Colorado.

OF Rick Ankiel (35)
Ankiel was drafted by the Cardinals in the second round in 1997 as a pitcher, but re-invented himself as an outfielder starting in 2005. He came to Houston as a free agent in January 2013 and was subsequently released on May 9th after hitting only .194/.231/.484 in 25 games (and striking out 35 times in that span).

Happy Birthday - 7/19

A few former Astros with birthdays today ~

RHP Wilton Lopez (30)
Originally signed by the Yankees as a NDFA out of Nicaragua, Lopez was selected off waivers from the Padres in April 2009. In 213 games for the Astros from 2009 through 2012, Lopez had a 13-13 record with a 3.14 ERA, a 1.207 WHIP and 11 saves. He was traded, along with Jose Monzon, to the Rockies for Alex White and Alex Gillingham in December 2012. He was the 11th Nicaraguan national to make it to the U.S. major leagues.

CF Preston Wilson (39)
Originally drafted by the Mets in the first round in 1992, Wilson came to Houston as a free agent in January 2006 and was released in August of that year after hitting .269/.309/.405 in 102 games. In 1999, he was second in Rookie of the Year voting to Reds pitcher Scott Williamson. In 2003, Wilson was an All-Star for Colorado.

OF Rick Ankiel (34)
Ankiel was drafted by the Cardinals in the second round in 1997 as a pitcher, but re-invented himself as an outfielder starting in 2005. He came to Houston as a free agent in January 2013 and was subsequently released on May 9th after hitting only .194/.231/.484 in 25 games (and striking out 35 times in that span). He was subsequently picked up by the Mets for 20 games.

Roster Moves

The Astros traded relief pitcher Wilton Lopez and a PTBNL* for two right-handers from the Rockies last night, Alex White and Alex Gillingham. White has been added to the 40-man roster while Lopez was removed from it, leaving the 40-man at 37 with three openings.

Alex White was drafted by Cleveland out of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the first round (15th overall) in 2009 and was traded to Colorado in July 2011 as a part of the Ubaldo Jimenez deal. In 2012, he appeared in 23 games (20 starts) for the Rockies, compiling a 2-9 record with a 5.51 ERA and a 1.684 WHIP. In 44 starts over three seasons in the minors, White was 15-15 with a 2.65 ERA and a 1.118 WHIP. He just turned 24 in August.

The 23-year old Alex Gillingham was drafted by the Rockies in the 11th round in 2011 out of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. In 19 starts for the LoA Asheville Tourists in 2012, Gillingham was 6-8 with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.220 WHIP. According to MiLB.com, his ground out to air out ratio was 3.29 which would automatically make him one of the most prolific groundball pitchers in the Astros minor league system.

*According to Baseball-Reference, the trade was actually for Lopez plus a player to be named later or cash.

I have updated my ongoing Off-Season Transaction List to account for these moves. Jeff Luhnow has hinted at another move coming soon. Bud Norris is the name most frequently rumored to be at the center of talks.

Happy Birthday - 7/19

RHP Wilton Lopez (29)
Originally signed by the Yankees as a NDFA out of Nicaragua, Lopez was selected off waivers from the Padres in April 2009. In 183 games for the Astros from 2009 forward, Lopez has a 10-10 record with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.220 WHIP. This season, he is 3-0 with a 2.29 ERA and a 0.962 WHIP in 34 appearances. He was the 11th Nicaraguan national to make it to the U.S. major leagues.

RHP Kirk Clark (24)
Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2009, Clark is originally from Moline, IL and went to Creighton. In his second season at Lancaster, he is 4-4 with a 5.49 ERA, a 1.678 WHIP and 8 saves out of the bullpen. On the road (away from the Lancaster effect), he has a 3.15 ERA and six saves.

One former Astro with a birthday today ~

CF Preston Wilson (38)
Originally drafted by the Mets in the first round in 1992, Wilson came to Houston as a free agent in January 2006 and was released in August of that year after hitting .269/.309/.405 in 102 games. In 1999, he was second in Rookie of the Year voting to Reds pitcher Scott Williamson. In 2003, Wilson was an All-Star for Colorado.

Roster Moves - 7/5

Houston/Oklahoma City
LHP Dallas Keuchel was optioned from Houston to Oklahoma City.
Enerio del Rosario was assigned from Oklahoma City to Houston.
Wilton Lopez was assigned to Oklahoma City for a rehab assignment.

Lexington
Nolan Fontana was assigned to Lexington.

Greeneville
C Luis Alvarez was assigned from Lexington to Greeneville.