Astroland N - O: The World's Most Complete Listing of Houston Astro Baseball Cards

The scoreboard at Osceola County Stadium, circa 1992

OPENING DAY STARTERS FOR HOUSTON IN CAPS



 



The Needle and the Damage DoneThe Needle and the Damage Done



CARDS I HAVE PLAYER POSITION REMARKS
5 Garret Nago Cards Catcher
Journeyman in his last year caught for the 1989 Columbus Mudcats, compiling a .256-4-13 line.
1989 - 1900 Columbus Mudcats logo
28 Mike Nannini CardsPitcher
Michigan BattleCats logo
Number One pick in the '98 Supplemental Draft began pro career with 16 consecutive scoreless innings for Gulf Coast that year. Midwest League All-Star for Michigan and Pitcher of the Week for Kissimmee in 2000. Traded to the Cubs with Travis Anderson for Flash Gordon on September 11, 2002, and went on to lead the 2003 Cubs minor league system in strikeouts
1 Ed Napoleon Card Coach
Houston Astros 1965 - 1993 logoCoach under Art Howe in 1989 and 1990 was outfielders coach, bunting instructor, and pressbox "Eye in the Sky" before the Astros abandoned, and the NL outlawed, the practice
8 Tyrone Narcisse Cards Pitcher
One Sunday Afternoon in Kissimmee I watched this guy lose 1- 0
Kissimmee Cobras logo
20 Telvin Nash CardsOutfield/1st Base
Third round pick in June 2009 hit .218 at Gulf Coast that year. Moving on to Greeneville in 2010, he ended up being named team MVP, as he led G-ville in hits, homers, total bases and RBI, and earned a season-ending four-game mini-promotion to Tri-City. Moved to first base in 2011 for Lexington, where he hit 14 homers, and walked 40 times, both good for third on the club. Hit .224 and struck out an eyepopping (and California League-leading) 198 times at Lancaster in 2012, but he also slugged .494 , as he led the Cal League champion JetHawks with 29 homers, a number that was also good for second in the league. Assigned to repeat at Lancaster in 2013, maybe with an eye towards a midseason callup to Corpus; instead, an injury ended his season on July 18, with his OPS at .857. Hit .227 and Slugged .484 with only 4 Doubles at Corpus in 2014
Lancaster JetHawks logo
2 Ray Navarrete Cards Infield
Corpus Christi Hooks logo
Third baseman hit .232 in 52 games for the 2005 inaugural season Corpus Christi Hooks
2 Scott Navarro Cards Pitcher
Round Rock Express  logoLefty was a member of two straight League champions: went 8 - 3 with a 2.88 for the 1999 Florida State League champion Kissimmee Cobras, and despite a DL stint, appeared in 22 games for the 2000 Texas League champs Round Rock Express
2 Bob Neal Cards GM
Immediate predecessor to John Graham as General Manager of the Auburn Astros, the Auburn club finished middle-of-the-pack on the field and at the turnstiles in both years under his stewardship
~1990 Auburn Astros logo
2 Mike Neal Cards Infield
Acquired from the Indians on March 29, 1998 for a player perhaps-still-to-be-named, Neal led the '98 Jackson Generals in hitting and tied for sixth in the Texas League with a .326 batting average 1991 - 1999 Jackson Generals logo
2 John Neely Cards Pitcher
1991 - 1999 Jackson Generals logo
Texas Tech alum was the 30th round pick in the June 2012, then was 0 - 1 with a 3.12 for Tri-City thereafter. Pitched at Quad Cities in 2013, and led the team in Saves with 12, despite retiring in mid-July
7 Bryant Nelson Cards Infield
Led the 1995 Kissimmee Cobras in hitting with a .327 mark, while playing all of six positions
Kissimmee Cobras logo
1 Jack Nelson Card Pitcher
Lefty threw 27 innings for the '06 Greeneville Astros
Greeneville Astros logo
1 Nate Nelson Card Infield
10th round pick in 2000 out of Louisiana Lafayette hit .266 for the 2000 Martinsville Astros, and finished fourth on the team in hits.
Martinsville Astros 1999 logo
2 Adam Nelubowich Cards Infield
Tri City ValleyCats logo
Left-handed hitter from Stony Plain, Alberta was the Astros 18th round draft pick in the June 2013 draft, and hit .185 at Tri-City thereafter. Only got into 5 Games for TC in 2014, and retired midseason
7 Pat Neshek Cards Pitcher
Tri City ValleyCats logoOne of the many improvements to the 2015 bullpen signed as a free agent in the offseason--or at least so was the thought. Finished 17 Games for the big league club in '15 and '16. Pitched in two Games and finished one with a 0.00 ERA in the 2015 ALDS may be the biggest takeaway
2 Michael Ness Cards Pitcher
Ex Duke Blue Devil led the 2010 NYPL champion Tri-City ValleyCats in saves and co-led in appearances. 2011 saw a 5.98 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP at Lancaster--which is about average for Clear Chhannel Stadium
Lancaster JetHawks logo
4 Matt Nevarez Cards Pitcher
Acquired on August 18, 2009 from Texas in the deal that sent Ivan Rodriguez back to the Rangers. Nevarez was placed on Houstopn's 40-man roster, and concluded a year that saw him average over 13 K/9IP at Lexington. Pitched at Corpus in 2010 and struck out 41 in 38+ innings, but walked 46. Threw only 21 innings at Corpus in 2011, and none too successfully
Corpus Christi Hooks logo
24 Tom Nevers CardsShortstop
1991 - 1999 Jackson Generals logo
1990 Number One Draft Pick was voted the best defensive shortstop in the 1991 South Atlantic League, and a league All Star, but never progressed from there, never hit higher than .272, and never reached Triple A, before his trade to the Brewers on June 21, 1995 for Derrick May.
52 Phil Nevin Cards
3rd Base
 
# 1 Pick in the Nation out of Cal State Fullerton in 1992 had also played for Team USA. He hit two triples in his first professional game (which was also the Florida Marlins' first), but quickly became noted for a countrproductive attitude, which after much handwringing, eventually got him shipped to Detroit straight up for a washed up Mike Henneman in August of 1995. The Tigers and the Angels gave up on him too, before he arrived in San Diego in 1999, and his rise into an All-Star for the Padres I'm sure has more to do with a delayed personal maturation than any manifestation of dormant athletic skills.
Tucson Toros logo
5 David Newhan Cards
Second Baseman
 
Played 60 games and hit .308 at AAA Round Rock in 2009 before being purchased by the Astros on June 24. Played 64 games with Houston and hit .260. Released at the end of Spring Training 2009
Round Rock Express logo
1 Danny Newman Card Pitcher
1987 Gulf Coast League All-Star co-led the cycle in wins with 7, and threw three complete games with an ERA of 1.41. Got promoted once, to Asheville for 1988, where he went 6 - 7 with a 4.17 for the Sally League runners-up.
Asheville Tourists logo
1 Todd Newman Card Pitcher
1983 - 1994 Auburn Astros logo
3 - 3 with a 2.67 in his only professional year for the 1987 Auburn Astros
1 Jackson Nezuh Card Pitcher
1983 - 1994 Auburn Astros logo14th round pick in the June 2024 finished second in the organization in Strikeouts in his ifrst year, split between the 2024 Asheville and Fayetteville squads. Didn't progress in 2025 due to elbow issues, but his numbers in 2026 reflected a certain effectiveness at both AA Corpus and at AAA Sugar Land
7 Austin Nicely Cards Pitcher
10th round draft pick in June 2013 was 0 - 2 with a 4.91 at Gulf Coast after signing. 2 - 6 with a 3.88 when he repeated in the Appy League in 2014
1983 - 1994 Auburn Astros logo
17 Carl Nichols Cards
Catcher
 
1989 AAA All-Star had been acquired from the Orioles on March 31, 1989 for Victor Hithe. Nichols hit .256, .253, and .215 for his three years--at Tucson. He hit .204, .196 and .077 at Houston with no better than average defense and was given his release following the 1991 season. Houston Astroslogo
3 DAVE NICHOLSON Cards
Outfield
 
Astros Shooting Star logo
Acquired with Bill Heath from the White Sox on December 1, 1965, Nicholson started on Opening Day and got into 100 games, hitting .256 with 10 homers and 31 RBI for the 1966 club. After the year, they sent him with Bob Bruce in a complex deal to the Braves for Eddie Mathews and two guys who would never play for the 'Stros.
4 Derek Nicholson Cards Outfield
Michigan BattleCats logoNumber 16 Draft Pick in 1998 was third on the 1998 New York Penn co-champion Auburn Doubledays in hitting, and was a 1999 Midwest League All-Star for the Michigan BattleCats. Returned to the organization in 2006 as a Corpus Christi Hook, and appeared in 59 games as a backup first baseman and pinch-hitter.
3 Marcus Nidiffer Cards First Baseman
NDFA led the 2010 Greeneville Astros in homers while hitting .303, and was named an Appy League postseason All-Star. Finished second in the Appy League in OPS and third in slugging, yet was released out of Spring Training 2011
Greeneville Astros logo
68 JOE NIEKRO Cards
Pitcher
 
All-time franchise leader in victories won 20 in '80 and was an All-Star in 1979. Would later appear on the David Letterman show after getting caught with sandpaper. While we've all got to go some time, I think it's fair to say his sudden death from an aneurysm in October of 2006 came too soon by far. Houston Astroslogo
4 Randy Niemann Cards
Pitcher
 
Houston Astros 1965 - 1993 logo
Received by the Astros with a PTBNL who would become Dave Bergman from the New York Yankees on June 15, 1977 for Cliff Johnson, Niemann would pitch 99 innings for the Astros' triple A farm clubs in 1979 and 1980, and another 100 innings for the major league club those years. All told, Niemann went 3 - 3 with a 4.32 before being jettisoned to the Pirates in a deal that netted sparkplug Phil Garner. Niemann pitched for the hated 1986 Mets and was on this plane flight where all these Mets and their wives were puking, but near as I can tell, did not pitch in the 1986 playoffs.
3 Roy Nieto Cards Pitcher
Osceola Astros 1985 - 1993 logo43rd-round pick in the 1991 draft got to High A Osceola in 1993, and won 9 while losing 13 in his three years in the Astros system
79 Fernando Nieve Cards
Pitcher
 
Appalachian League Top Prospect in 2002 had progressed to High A salem by 2004, where he was 10 - 6 with a 2.96 and earned League All-Star honors, and a year-end promotion to then-AA Round Rock. He'd already earned the Mirror, I think. His rookie season at the major league level saw a certain confusion on the part of the club as to whether Fernando is a starter or a reliever. Thought to have the inside track on a spot in the rotation for 2007, Nieve instead broke Spring camp with Round Rock, and was later injured. 2 - 5 with a 5.72 at Round Rock in '08, and 11 games with Houston, too.
Round Rock Express logo
2 Fionel Nieves Cards Pitcher
Shortstop from Bayamon, Puerto Rico spent his last professional year with the 1976 Dubuque Packers (.262-1-18) after spending the first three years of his career in the Phillies organization. Father to a current prospect in the Red Sox organization by the same name, or at least was of 2004. . . . 1974 Dubuque Packers  logo
1 Raul Nieves Card Infield
Asheville Tourists logo
Native of San Pedro De Macoris signed by Julio Linares with not-so-good results in 1990 and 1991 had graduated stateside from the Dominican Summer League
5 CJ Nitkowksi Cards Pitcher
Tied major league record with three consecutive hit batters vs Marlins 8/3/98. Once had a pretty funny baseball-related website, but then a traumatic event convinced him he had to turn his moderately cool and topical website into a place to electronically proseletyze. As if that s&^ wasn't everywhere.
Houston Astros 1994 - 1999 logo
3 Russ Nixon Cards Manager
Manager of the Braves once replaced by Bobby Cox replaced JJ Cannon as manager for the Lexington Legends for 2003. Took the reins at Salem for 2004, then was miscast as manager at Rookie League Greeneville in 2005.
Lexington Legends logo

Welcome Indeed


CARDS I HAVE PLAYER POSITION REMARKS
3 Rayner Noble Cards Pitcher
30 - 17 between 1983 and 1987 for Daytona Beach, Columbus and Tucson, including a 9 - 4, 2.64 year for the '84 Daytona Beach Astros
Mid \'80s Daytona Beach Astros logo
1 Wilton Noel Card Pitcher
Greeneville Astros logo
Rare prospect from Cartagena, Colombia pitched at Greeneville in 2005, posting a 2 - 3 record with a 5.30 ERA
3 Antonio Noguera Cards Pitcher
Lefty out of the Venezuelan Academy led the 2007 Greeneville Astros in innings pitched and Games Started, but struggled a bit at Tri-City in 2008. Ascended to Lexington by the end of 2009
Greeneville Astros logo
5 Guy Normand Cards Pitcher
16-Game winner for the 1987 SAL champion Asheville Tourists
Asheville Tourists logo
96 BUD NORRIS Cards
Pitcher
 
6th Round Pick in the 2006 June draft led the '06 ValleyCats in K/BB ratio, then in 2007 finished second on the Lexington Legends to Santo Luis in strikeouts. Baseball America named Norris the Astros' seventh-best prospect--and the one possessing the best curveball--for 2008. An injury and a 4.05 ERA at Corpus kept him from capitalizing on the attention, however. Pitched very well at Round Rock in 2009, and was named 2009 PCL Pitcher of the Year. Had a 2.62 ERA at Round Rock in July of '09 when he was called up to Houston and except for a rehab start has been with the major league club ever since. Above a strikeout per inning pitched in 2010, Norris went on to lead the team in K's for 2011. Became one of four Astros to strike out four in an inning on April 24, 2012, joining Scott, Dotel, and Lidge. Started the team's debut game in the American League, March 31, 2013, and beat the Rangers besides. Dabbled successfully with a pitch-to-contact approach during the remainder of 2013, at least until being traded to the Orioles for LJ Hoes and Josh Hader eight hours before the July 31 deadline
Houston Astros logo, 2000 - logo
4 Dax Norris Cards Catcher
Round Rock Express  logo
Minor League free agent signed in Winter of 2002 hit .245 for the Express in 2003 and .319 in 2004. In 2005, and at the age of 32, he played at AA Corpus Christi and hit .232, while no doubt providing lots of guidance for young Hooks pitchers.
9 Don Nottebart Cards Pitcher
Only one guy can throw your first no-hitter, although Nottebart pitched in 87 other games for the Colt .45's beyond that May 17, 1963 gem, winning 21 and losing 34, with no saves and a 3.86
Houston Colt .45's logo
17 Jacob Nottingham CardsCatcher
High school catcher was the 6th round pick in the June 2013 draft, and hit .247 at Gulf Coast as he began his career. Struck out 54 times to only 18 Walks at Greeneville in 2014. But OPSed .930 at Quad Cities in 2015, notching mid- and post-season Midwest League, All-Star nods, and a promotion to High A Lancaster, where he hit .324. AND he got traded to Oakland with Daniel Mengden for Scott Kazmir. Made his major league debut with Milwaukee in April 2018
Houston Colt .45's logo
3 Freudis Nova Cards Shortstop
2016 defense-first international signing led the 2018 Gulf Coast Astros in RBI, and was the youngest member of the 2019 Quad Citites River Bandits--led the squad in Doubles. Tore his ACL in 2022 and a return at Asheville in 2023 didn't go well and that was it Houston Colt .45's logo
1 Antonio Nuñez Card Infield
Houston Colt .45's logo
18th round pick in the June 2014 draft hit .190 with 0 Home Runs at Greeneville that summer, but still managed to reach AAA Fresno in 2018
5 Dan Nyssen Cards Outfield
1983 - 1994 Auburn Astros logoLed the 1987 New York Penn League in hits, while leading the Auburn Astros in average, hits, and RBI. As a member of the Asheville Tourists, on August 12, 1988, and in the seventh-inning, Nyssen made a stab on a dying quail to preserve Dean Hartgraves' first no-hitter.

Welcome Indeed


CARDS I HAVE PLAYER POSITION REMARKS
25 Brett Oberholtzer Cards
Pitcher
 
Acquired--in Ed Wade's final trade--with Jordan Schafer, Juan Abreu and Paul Clemens at the 2011 deadline from in exchange for Michael Bourn, Olberholtzer entered the 2012 season as the organization's seventh best prospect according to Baseball America, and the one with the best slider. Split that season between Corpus and OKC, won ten, lost ten, and had a .281 BAA. Spent 2013 with both AAA OKC and Houston, posting better numbers (including the team's only Complete Game Shutout and a 2.76) with the major league club. Made all but five of his Starts at Houston in 2014, and posted a 4.39 ERA there. Interesting that his FIP in both years--the 2.76 ERA year and the 4,39 one-was just about the same. Pretty much guaranteed a spot in the Houston rotation to begin 2015, he instead started the year on the DL
18 Ken Oberkfell Cards
Infield
 
Houston Astros 1965 - 1993 logo
Roleplayer was .214-30-1 in 130 games for Houston between 1990 and 1991. . . but Oberkfell will always be remembered by Astros fans for what he did as a member of the Braves. On June 12, 1988, in a Sunday matinee at the Dome, Oberkfell singled cleanly to break up a Mike Scott no-hitter with two outs in the 9th. Denied his second career no-no, Scott got the next guy, Gerald Perry, to finish with a no-walk one-hitter
2 Jim O'Bradovich Cards
Infield
 
Charleston Charlies logoSigned as a free agent from Minnesota on April 9, 1977, O'Bradovich led the 1978 Charleston Charlies in homers with 21 and RBI with 85, plus hit .306. He was rewarded with an International League All-Star selection and a September callup to Houston, during which he went 3 for 17 with a triple and a couple ribbies.
3 Mark O'Bradovich Cards Catcher
Switch-hitting 20th Round Draft Pick in the 2001 draft was named a South Atlantic League All Star following his 2003 season with Lexington. Backup to Jeff Mackor on the 2004 Salem Avalanche squad
Salem Avalanche logo
1 Corey O'Brien Card Trainer
Trained the athletes at Tri-City in 2014 Tri City ValleyCats logo
1 Patrick O'Brien Card Catcher
Tri City ValleyCats logo
17th Round pick in 2003 out of Kent State hit .203 at Tri-City that year, with a single extra-base hit
1 Javier Ochoa Card Catcher
NDFA from Maracay, Venezuela, played two years at Gulf Coast and a third at Auburn--with a cup of café at Quad City--in the late 90's
1995 - 2000 Auburn Doubledays logo
1 Nehomar Ochoa, Jr. Card Outfield
Highschooler was the 11th round pick in the June 2023 draft. Didn't get off to a great start, and then a a terrible accident involving a hook, and his head, derailed his 2025 season. But in 2026 he hit .287 at Fayetteville before getting the promotion to High A Asheville he'd been looking towards, and he OPSed .909 in the Sally League
1995 - 2000 Auburn Doubledays logo
4 Brian O'Connor Cards Catcher
24th Round Pick in 1999 spent three years in the Astros system and didn't hit .200 during any of them Michigan BattleCats logo
2 Jim O'Dell Cards Infield
Osceola Astros 1985 - 1993 logo
Led the 1983 Auburn Astros and the 1984 Asheville Tourists in homers and RBI, and was also named by the fans of the 1985 Osceola Astros as their most popular player. They also gave him the nickname "Digger"
1 Matt O'Donnell Card Pitcher
Greeneville Astros logoNon-drafted free agent was 4 - 0 with a 1.91 in 25 games as a reliever for the 2004 Appalachian League champion Greeneville Astros
4 Jake Odorizzi Cards Pitcher
Righthander signed a 2 year FA deal in March 2021. Pitched 106 innings for the 2021 club, and tallied a 4.21 ERA. Pitched poorly in the playoff series the Astros won, and well in the Series they lost. Pitched another 60 innings for the 2022 World Championship club, before he was traded in August to the Braves for the pitcher named Will Smith
Houston Astros logo 2014 -
1 Mike Oglesbee Card DH
The Professional Baseball Player Database V 5.0 refers to Mr. Oglesbee as "Nathan." After leading the 1986 Eugene Emeralds in homers (and thereby outhomering future Killer B Sean Berry), Oglesbee was traded to the Astros for a certain Mike Fuentes, a journeyman who had reached the majors with Montreal in 1984, and had played at Columbus and Tucson for the 'Stros in '86. Placed at Asheville for '87, Oglesbee hit 13 homers and drove in 42 for the very powerful Tourist club that won the Northern division before and after the break but lost in the finals of the playoffs. In fact, Fuentes and Oglesbee had fairly strong seasons in 1987, with Fuentes posting better numbers in all three triple crown categories, but the point was thereafter moot: each was out of professional baseball after the 1987 season
Asheville Tourists logo
4 Jim Olander Cards Outfield
Tucson Toros logo
Olander played 14 seasons in the minors, but had only two full seasons worse than his .235-1-12 effort for Tucson in 1990, his only season in the Astros organization
1 Jon Olczak Card Pitcher
Inseason minor league free agent signing in 2021 co-led (with Nick Hernandez ) that year's CC Hooks in Saves, and had a 0.75 WHIP. Pitched at AAA Sugar Land in 2022, and his ERA wouldn't have been that great even if he hadn't given up that 11th inning walk off Grand Slam to Albuquerque on June 28
Corpus Christi Hooks logo
2 Steve Oliverio Cards Pitcher
2 - 8 with a 4.72 over 18 games in his final season, for the 1989 Columbus Mudcats
1989 - 1900 Columbus Mudcats logo
2 Jim Olson Cards Pitcher
Second in wins in the South Atlantic League to Charley Kerfeld while pitching for the 1983 Spartanburg Phillies, Olson pitched for Auburn in 1986 and Asheville in 1987, compiling a 9 - 9 record
~1990 Auburn Astros logo
9 Paul O'Malley Cards Pitcher
1991 - 1999 Jackson Generals logo
Man of ups and downs, this second-tier righthander won 8 in a row for the 1995 Kissimmee Cobras--then lost nine in a row to close the year. Led the 1998 Jackson Generals in wins, although he was lucky to do so, considering his 5.45 ERA that year
4 Luis Ordosggoitti Cards Pitcher
Lexington Legends logoNDFA righthander from Maturin, Venezuela debuted at Gulf Coast in 2010 and progressed to Greeneville in 2011. Fourth starter at Lexington in 2012; struck out a mere 77 in 103 innings. Pitched well in a demotion year at Gulf Coast and Greeneville in 2013, but went 2 - 5 with a 4.53 at Tri-City in 2014 and was released
6 Mark Ori Cards Infield
2005 New York-Penn League All- Star went on to boost the power with 36 XBH at Lexington in 2006. Led the '08 Avs in average, OPS, and was third in OBP before being named a Salem MVP and a Carolina League postseason All-Star. Still, Ori may have been most famous that year for being arrested with Koby Clemens and Jimmy Goethals. Hit .262 at AA Corpus in 2009 and .284 at High A Lancaster in 2010
Corpus Christi Hooks logo
11 Ben Orloff Cards Infield
Ninth round pick in the June 2009 draft split his time that summer between Tri-City and Greeneville. Led the 2010 V-Cats in hits and stolen bases, and was named Tri-City's team MVP, while earning from his teammates the nickname "The Wizard" for his outstanding defense. Co-led the 2011 Lexington Legends in Triples, and Walked more than he struck out. Began 2012 at Lancaster and hit .288 there before being promoted to Corpus in July. Hit .295 in the Texas League, including a 5 for 5 performance with 5 RBI August 12 vs. Springfield. Hit .298 at Corpus in 2013, yet was mysteriously released in mid-June, retiring shortly thereafter
Lancaster JetHawks logo
9 Jorge Orta Cards Coach
Martinsville Astros 2000 - 2002 logo
Co-owner of modern day major league record for hits in a game--with six--began coaching in the Astros chain in 1997, and managed at Martinsville from 2001 - 2003. His 2003 club had the best record in the Appalachian League at 42 - 23, but lost two games to one in the finals, and Orta was named Manager of the Year. He coached at Tri-City in 2004 and 2005.
19 Javier Ortiz Cards
Outfield
 
Acquired by the Astros from the Dodgers for Ed Vosberg on July 22, 1989, Ortiz would go on to hit .352 at Tucson in 1990. Given limited major league trials during 1991 and 1992, he carried averages of .273 and .276 with low power numbers before being released in the winter of 1991. Played in both the Gulf Coast League and the Northern League during his subsequent, fruitless, attempt to get back to the majors.
Houston Astros 1965 - 1993 logo
1 JC Ortiz Card Pitcher
Lefthander from Las Cruces, New Mexico was drafted in the 34th round in 1999, and spent the rest of the year at Auburn, going 1 - 2 with a 4.66.
1995 - 2000 Auburn Doubledays logo
4 Joe Ortiz Cards Catcher
Second (to Eric Anthony) on the 1988 Asheville Tourists in both homers (13) and RBI (71). Caught the entire game for Asheville and scored a run in Dean Hartgraves' first no-hitter on August 12 of that year. Despite hitting only .206, was still able to finish second to Osceola team leader Andy Mota in RBI
Asheville Tourists logo
3 JD Osborne Cards Pitcher
Lancaster JetHawks logo
Lefthander was the 36h round selection in the 2013 free agent draft; he pitched at three levels that year, most successfully at Greeneville, and most often at Tri-City. Split 2014 between Rookie Greeneville and High A Lancaster, which is a combination you don't often see. And released after the season
1 Alvin Osofsky Card Outfield
Strong-armed switch-hitter batted .185 with a ribbie and a homer for the 1975 Covington Astros, and .221-0-8 for the 1975 Dubuque Packers. After this one and only season in the Astros' chain, Osofsky found work for 1976 in the ill-fated and doomed independent Gulf States League, where he batted .303 with 3 homers and 47 RBI's. Teammate Mike Lally expands on the "strong-armed" thing and tells our site that Osofsky's arm was "jawdropping," that he'd hit home plate on the fly from the warning track.
1974 Dubuque Packers  logo
3 Claude Osteen Cards
Pitcher
 
25th-winningest lefty of all-time was an Astro for 252 days, the period of time between December 6, 1973, when Osteen and Dave Culpepper were received from the Dodgers in exchange for Jimmy Wynn, and August 15, 1974, when Osteen was traded to the Cardinals for Dan Larson and Ron Selak. Wynn of course had perhaps his best year for the Dodgers in '74, while Osteen was 9 - 9 with a couple of shutouts and an adjusted ERA of 94 for Houston. Larson and Selak had excellent ERA's at Columbus in 1975, but only Larson was called up to the major league club in 1976, the year after a clearly faded Osteen had retired. Although he ended up with a losing record, Larson in actuality had a better adjusted ERA in his initial season in Houston than Osteen did in his abbreviated campaign. Then Larson was 1 - 7 lousy in 1977 (which ended up being Jimmy Wynn's last year), was sent back to the minors, and didn't get recalled until after he was traded to the Phillies for Dan Warthen, who was 0 - 1 with a 4.22 for the '78 squad, and was released toward the end of spring training 1979. I might call the whole thing a wash, except the Toy Cannon got a pennant out of the many deals. So good for him.
1974 Dubuque Packers  logo
64 Al Osuna Cards
 
360 minor- and major-league appearances for the Astros but never made a single start. Houston Astros 1965 - 1993 logo
5 Roberto Osuna Cards
Pitcher
 
Houston Astros logo 2014 -
Up there with Miguel Tejada as contender for the most poorly thought-out free agent acquistion in the history of the franchise. Most people--already inclkined to hate the Astros--assumed the Astros signed the domestic abuser Osuna because they were an evil organization. Me, I just think it was an understandable desperation to move away however they could from Ken Giles
1057
 
ROY OSWALT Cards
Pitcher
 
Pitcher known for groin strains and Cy Young near-misses from Weir, MS (pop. 553), was Olympic Gold Medallist in 2000, Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year for 2001, and Opening Day Starter for 2003 - 2010. Had a .700 winning percentage through his first four major league seasons, and was at one point considered a sure thing to become the future Astros career leader in wins. But disgruntled with the state of the organization, Oswalt asked for a trade in May 2010, and got one--to the Phillies--shortly before that year's trade deadline. He left the Astros second on their list in career victories, one behind Joe Niekro and second in strikeouts behind Nolan Ryan
Houston Astros logo, 2000 - logo
1 Ed Ott Card Coach
Former Pirate served as Art Howe's Catching Instructor between 1989 and 1993, and as his First Base Coach in 1991, 1992 and 1993
Houston Astros 1965 - 1993 logo
8 Ariel Ovando Cards Outifled
NDFA from San Pedro de Macoris signed in July of 2010 and made his debut stateside as a 17-yeard old with Greeneville in 2011, where he played 44 games, and was on one of five G-ville players to strike out exactly 51 times. Repeated at G-ville in 2012 and finished second on the team to Jean Batista in Total Bases despite striking out 67 times in 59 Games. Named the oragnization's 14th-best prospect after the 2012 season by Baseball America. Split 2013 between Greeneville and Quad Cities, hitting .194.
Houston Astros 1965 - 1993 logo
5 Spike Owen Cards Coach
Round Rock Express logo
Ex-Longhorn became hitting coach for Round Rock in 2002
1 Billy Owens Card 1st Base
1991 - 1999 Jackson Generals logoMinor league free agent signed out of the Orioles organization on October 10, 1996 played at High A Kissimmee in 1997 and at AA Jackson in '98.
2 Jayhawk Owens Cards Coach
Backup catcher for the Colorado Rockies between 1993 and 1996 served as hitting coach for the Michigan BattleCats in 2001 and for the Lexington Legends in 2002
Lexington Legends logo
10 Jim Owens Cards
Pitcher
 
118 innings pitched for the Colt .45's in 1964 with 11 starts, but used less and less after that, until by 1967 he threw 10-2/3 innings total over 10 games. Take a look:

Owens' Numbers Dwindled
YrGIPWSv
196448118.08 6
19655071.368
19664050.042
19671010.70

Houston Colt .45's logo
2 Rudy Owens Cards
Pitcher
 
Houston Colt .45's logo
Lefthander acquired from the Pirates with Robbie Grossman and Colton Cain in exchange for Wandy Rodriguez on July 24 2012. Was on the team's 40-man roster to begin 2013, but had foot surgery in April, and only threw 17 innings for Oklahoma City that year. IN 2014, also pitching for Oklahoma City, he led the Redhawks staff in IP, and was second in K's. Made his one start for Houston, and his one start in the majors, on May 23, 2014, and he took the loss. Began 2015 again at OKC with an 0 - 2 record and a 2.78 ERA, but found himself released in July anyway
2 José Oyervidez Cards Pitcher
Corpus Christi Hooks logoRighthander signed as a minor league free agent in April 2008 pitched for Corpus Christi in the months that followed, and compiled a 6.26 ERA in 42 games

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