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2016 Houston Astros Season
The 2016 Houston Astros season was the 55th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas, their 52nd as the Astros, fourth in both the American League (AL) and AL West division, and 17th at Minute Maid Park. After a 7–17 start in the month of April, the Astros produced a winning record over their next four months, highlighted by an 18–8 record in June. After going 12–15 in September, the Astros were eliminated from playoff contention. They finished in third place in the AL West with a final record of 84–78, eleven games back of the division champion Texas Rangers. As of 2022, this was the last time the Astros had missed the playoffs. Offseason * 11/13/15 – Astros re-signed OF Colby Rasmus to the team's qualifying offer of one year, $15.8 million. * 11/19/15 – Astros traded IF Jonathan Villar to the Milwaukee Brewers for RHP Cy Sneed. * 11/25/15 – Astros traded IF Jed Lowrie to the Oakland Athletics for RHP Brendan McCurry. * 12/2/15 – A ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park is a retractable roof stadium in Houston, Texas, United States. It opened in 2000 as the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Houston Astros. It has a seating capacity of 41,168, which includes 5,197 club seats and 63 luxury suites. The stadium has a natural grass playing field. It was built as a replacement for the Astrodome, the first domed sports stadium ever built, which opened in 1965. History Union Station and pre-ballpark era In 1909, during the time when West End Park was Houston's premier residential area, the Houston Belt and Terminal Railway Company commissioned the design of a new union station for the city from New York City-based architects Warren and Wetmore. The location called for the demolition of several structures of Houston prominence. Horace Baldwin Rice's residence and Adath Yeshurun Congregation's synagogue among other structures were removed. With an original estimated cost of US$1 million, Union Station was constructed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major league status. It is sometimes called the Junior Circuit because it claimed Major League status for the 1901 season, 25 years after the formation of the National League (the "Senior Circuit"). At the end of every season, the American League champion plays in the World Series against the National League champion; two seasons did not end in playing a World Series (1904, when the National League champion New York Giants refused to play their AL counterpart, and 1994, when a players' strike prevented the Series). Through 2021, American League teams have won 66 of the 117 World Series played since 1903, with 27 of those coming from the New York Yankees alone. The New York ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thomas Eshelman
Thomas Darwin Eshelman (born June 20, 1994) is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current pitching coach in the San Diego Padres organization. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2019. He played college baseball for the Titans of California State University, Fullerton. The Houston Astros selected Eshelman in the 2015 MLB draft, and traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies after the 2015 season. He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles during the 2019 season. Amateur career Eshelman attended Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, California. He played as a pitcher and catcher for Carlsbad's baseball team. He was named to the California Interscholastic Federation's first team at the end of his senior season. However, he was not selected in the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. Eshelman enrolled at California State University, Fullerton to play college baseball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans, exclusively as a pitcher. In 2013 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brett Oberholtzer
Brett Raymond Oberholtzer (born July 1, 1989) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Angels. He also played in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Chinatrust Brothers. High school and college Oberholtzer attended William Penn High School in New Castle, Delaware, where he pitched for the school's baseball team. He was named to the All-Delaware team in 2006. He was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 47th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign. Oberholtzer then attended Seminole Community College, a junior college, for one year. Professional career Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves drafted Oberholtzer in the eighth round in the 2008 Major League Baseball draft, and assigned him to the Rookie Gulf Coast League Braves. In ten relief pitching appearances, he posted a 4–1 win–loss record, 2.89 earned run average ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mark Appel
Mark Stewart Appel (born July 15, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Prior to joining the Phillies he also played in the Houston Astros organization. After being drafted out of high school by the Detroit Tigers in 2009, Appel elected to attend Stanford University and play for the Stanford Cardinal baseball team. Named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Pitcher of the Year in 2012, he was projected as the first overall draft choice in the 2012 MLB draft, but fell in the draft due to signability concerns. Appel did not sign after being selected eighth overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates, returning to Stanford for his senior season. The Houston Astros selected him with the first overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft, and he signed with them. Appel was traded to the Phillies after the 2015 season. After continued struggles, he was designated for assignment by the Phillies on November 20, 2017. In Febr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vincent Velasquez
Vincent John Velasquez ( ; born June 7, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox. Born in Montclair, California, Velasquez was a multi-sport athlete at Garey High School in Pomona. After bone spurs in his right elbow kept him from pitching and playing shortstop, he learned how to field left-handed. A growth spurt prior to his senior year of high school caused him to draw interest from the soccer and gridiron football teams, but Velasquez opted to focus on baseball on the advice of a scout for the Chicago White Sox. The Astros selected him in the second round of the 2010 MLB Draft, and Velasquez chose to pitch for them rather than honor his commitment to play college baseball as a shortstop for Cal State Fullerton. He was assigned to the Greeneville Astros in 2010, but underwent Tommy Joh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tony Sipp
Tony Marcel Sipp (born July 12, 1983) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, and Washington Nationals. Amateur career Born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Sipp graduated from Moss Point High School in Moss Point, Mississippi, where he also competed in football, winning a state title with the team in 2000. In baseball, Sipp also helped Moss Point High reach the state championship in baseball. Sipp and fellow major leaguer Joey Butler formerly played against one another, as they are both from Jackson County, Mississippi. Sipp played for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and also attended Okaloosa-Walton College, before transferring to Clemson University. In 2003, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and returned to the league in 2004 to play for the Cotuit Kettleers. Professional career Clevela ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chris Carter (right-handed Hitter)
Vernon Christopher Carter (born December 18, 1986) is an American professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter for the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, and New York Yankees. In 2016, while playing for the Brewers, Carter led the National League in home runs, along with Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, with 41. Early life Carter was born in Redwood City, California. At approximately age 7 or 8, his family moved to Las Vegas. He attended Sierra Vista High School. In 2005, Sierra Vista's baseball team won the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Class 4A state championship. Professional career Draft and minor leagues Carter was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 15th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft. Carter began his professional career with the Bristol White Sox of the Rookie-level Appalachian ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hank Conger
Hyun Choi "Hank" Conger (born January 29, 1988) is a Korean American professional baseball catcher and coach. He is the first base and catching coach for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). Conger was selected in the first round, with the 25th overall selection, of the 2006 MLB draft. He played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Houston Astros, and the Tampa Bay Rays from 2010 to 2016. Conger coached for the Lotte Giants of the KBO League from 2020 to 2021 before joining the Twins as a coach in 2022. Early life Conger was born in Federal Way, Washington, but was raised in Huntington Beach, California. Conger's mother, Eun, immigrated from South Korea in 1986 and his father, Yun, was adopted from Korea by a United States Navy petty officer and raised in the United States. Conger originally played basketball due to his size, but began playing baseball at the age of eight and turned his focus there instead. Conger graduated from Huntington Beach Hig ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jed Lowrie
Jed Carlson Lowrie (born April 17, 1984) is an American professional baseball infielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics and New York Mets. Early life Lowrie was born on April 17, 1984, in Salem, Oregon, and later attended North Salem High School. In 2004, while playing for the Stanford University Cardinal baseball team, Lowrie earned Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year honors. He was a First Team All-American in 2004 and 2005. At Stanford, future major league outfielders Sam Fuld, John Mayberry Jr., and Carlos Quentin were among Lowrie's teammates. Professional career Boston Red Sox From 2005 through 2007, Lowrie played for Boston at three different minor league levels. During the 2007 season, he made the Eastern League All-Star team, was named the Portland Sea Dogs' Most Valuable Player, and the Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Year. He was promoted to the Pawtuc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cy Sneed
Cy Robert Sneed (born October 1, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the Nippon Professional Baseball league (NPB). He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros in 2019 and 2020. Career Amateur Sneed attended Twin Falls High School in Twin Falls, Idaho. In 2011, his senior year, Sneed pitched to a 9–0 win–loss record with a 1.36 earned run average (ERA) with 130 strikeouts, and batted .467 with 11 home runs and 38 runs batted in. He led his team to win the Class 4A state championship. Sneed was named the ''Times-News'' Player of the Year, and the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year for Idaho. The Texas Rangers selected Sneed in the 35th round of the 2011 MLB draft. He did not sign, opting to enroll at Dallas Baptist University to play NCAA baseball for the Dallas Baptist Patriots. He played with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks in the Cape Cod Baseball League in the summer of 2013. As a junior at Dallas Bapt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jonathan Villar
Jonathan Rafael Villar Roque (born May 2, 1991) is a Dominican professional baseball second baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in MLB for the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels. Prior to 2017, Villar was primarily a shortstop. Career Villar signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an international free agent. Before the 2011 season, the Phillies traded Villar, J. A. Happ, and Anthony Gose to the Houston Astros for Roy Oswalt. Houston Astros Villar was named the 94th best prospect in baseball by '' Baseball America'' prior to the 2011 season. He was invited to Astros' spring training in 2012. Villar played for the Oklahoma City RedHawks in 2013, and was named the Astros' minor league hitter of the month for June 2013. On July 21, the Astros promoted Villar to the major leagues. On July 30, 2013, Villar stole home against the Baltimore Orioles. His s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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