Hector Ambriz #62

Full name HECTOR AMBRIZ...Graduated from Valencia (Calif.) High School, where he was named the Orange League MVP his freshman, sophomore and senior seasons...Attended UCLA, where he was named the team's co-Outstanding Pitcher of the 2005 and 2006 seasons and was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year award... Signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks as their fifth-round selection in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft (147th overall)...Selected by Chicago White Sox in 28th Round (840th overall) of 2002 amateur entry draft, but did not sign.

2012

Appeared in 18 games for the Astros in his first MLB action since 2010...struck out 22 batters in his 19.1 innings pitched...did not allow a run in 13 of his 18 appearances (13IP)...did not allow a home run and posted a .206 opponents batting average (14x68)...began the season with the CLE organization at Triple A Columbus...assigned to Triple A OKC upon signing as a minor league free agent on June 21...had his contract purchased by Houston on Aug 22...earned the first Major League win of his career on Sept. 7 at CIN in what was the 42nd MLB game of his career...tossed 0.2 of a scoreless inning in the outing...had a stretch of six-straight scoreless appearances, spanning 6.0 innings from Sept. 13-22...struck out eight batters and did not issue a walk during that span...appeared in 38 games (one start) between Triple A Columbus and Triple A OKC, posting a combined 1-2 record with a 3.45 ERA (22ER/57.1IP) and 43 strikeouts...went 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA (9ER/24.1IP) and 18 strikeouts in his 18 appearances with OKC.

2011

Did not pitch in an official minor league game, spent the season rehabbing from reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in October 2010...Pitched in the Arizona Parallel League in October 2011..Appeared in 6 games and fanned 13 batters in 8.2 innings (8.2IP, 3H, 5R/ER, 2BB, 13K).

2010

Spent the entire season on the Major League roster after being selected in the Major League phase of the December Rule V draft (5th overall pick from Arizona)...Started the year on the 15-day DL from 3/27-4/30 with right elbow tendonitis...Activated 4/30...Began a rehab assignment at AAA Columbus on 4/10 and made 7 relief appearances (8.0IP, 9H, 1R/ER, 15K) and did not allow a run in 6 of the 7 outings and recorded a strikeout in each appearance...Made his Major League debut on 4/30 vs. Minnesota (1.0IP, 1H)...Season-high 4 strikeouts on July 29 vs. NYY...Career-high 3.1IP in extra inning loss at LA Angels on 9/8 (3.1IP, 1H, 1R/ER) in his final appearance of the season ...Went 0-0 w/a 3.46 ERA in 9 July appearances (13.0IP, 15H, 5ER)...Batters were 2 for 15 (.133) off him with the bases loaded...Over his last 9 appearances from August 7 until 9/ 8 he was 0-1 w/a 7.48 ERA (13.1IP, 21H, 11ER)...Was shutdown from baseball activities on 9/16 with soreness in his right elbow... Underwent UCL reconstructive surgery on his right elbow by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Anaheim, CA on 10/1...Outrighted off 40-man roster on 10/29.

2009

Split season between AA Mobile and AAA Reno in the Arizona organization...Combined 12-11 w/a 4.94 ERA in 28 games/27 starts (156.2IP, 182H, 86ER, 13HR, 46BB, 135K)...His 12 wins were T2nd and 135K were 3rd among Arizona minor league pitchers...Started season in Mobile and was promoted on May 2 to Reno...Tossed 7.0 shutout innings in his final start vs. Sacramento on Sept. 3 (7.0ip, 5h, 0r, 1bb, 5k).

2008

Compiled a 5-13 record and 4.89 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) at Mobile (AA)...Ranked second on the team in innings pitched (152.2) and strikeouts (118)...His 2 complete games tied for the Southern Leaguelead...Suffered the loss in both complete games; 7/12 at Montgomery and 8/23 at Mississippi...Struck out a season-high 10 batters on 7/30 vs. Tennessee.

2007

His 2 complete games at Visalia (A) tied for the most among organizational minor leaguers...Ranked sixth in the California League in ERA (4.08) and fourth in strikeouts (133)...finished the postseason 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA (2 ER in 14.2 IP) with 9 strikeouts, leading the Oaks to the California League second-half Northern Division Championship...Did not lose a decision from 7/9-8/16, going 5-0 with a 1.93 ERA (12 ER in 56.0 IP) and 49 strikeouts over 8 starts.

2006

Opened the season in the starting rotation, going 0-1 with a 1.54 ERA (2 ER in 11.2 IP) over 4 games...Moved to the bullpen on July 15 for the remainder of the season...Held opponents to a .192 average, including a .168 average against right-handers.