FYI --

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY,
OCTOBER 18, 2006
CONTACT: Astros Media Relations
713/259-8900


PEDRIQUE TO OVERSEE ASTROS
LATIN AMERICAN OPERATIONS
Special assistant to GM will be in charge of
Venezuelan, Dominican,
and Colombian academies

HOUSTON, TX — The Houston Astros announced today that
Al Pedrique, who currently serves as a special
assistant to the general manager, will take over
responsibility for all of the Astros operations in
Latin America . The announcement was made by General
Manager Tim Purpura .

Pedrique, a native of Venezuela who is a former Major
League player, coach, and manager, will now be the
Special Assistant to the General Manager for Latin
American Operations. His responsibilities will include
oversight of the franchise’s academies in Venezuela ,
Colombia and the Dominican Republic . Pedrique will
also be involved in all aspects of the club’s player
development and scouting efforts in Latin America ,
working closely with Assistant General Manager Ricky
Bennett , Senior Director for Baseball Operations
David Gottfried, and Senior Director for Scouting and
Player Personnel Paul Ricciarini .

Additionally, Pedrique also will work with Julio
Linares, who oversees the Astros Dominican Academy and
has been a member of the Astros organization since
1973. Linares currently serves as the special
assistant to the general manager for Dominican
scouting and development.

“The Astros have always had a strong presence in Latin
America and a significant commitment to our endeavors
in the region, in particular our academies in
Venezuela and the Dominican Republic ,” said Purpura.
“As we attempt to take our operations in this area to
an even higher level than before, we felt that Al has
the perfect background and ability to take the lead on
such an important component of our player development
and scouting efforts. Al is a valued member of our
staff who was raised in Venezuela and has great
contacts throughout the region. We consider our
operations in Venezuela and throughout Latin America
as a vital part of our success and a key element of
our player development efforts throughout the recent
history of the Astros franchise. Al’s efforts will no
doubt make our presence in the region even stronger
than before.”

Pedrique served as a minor league manager from
1995-2003, including two seasons with the Astros
then-Class A affiliate in Michigan from 1999-2000. The
2000 Michigan club won the Midwest League title.
Pedrique’s first full-time Major League coaching job
was in 2004, when he was the third base coach for the
Arizona Diamondbacks before serving as the club’s
manager for the second half of the season. Pedrique
has also served as the manager for Magallanes club in
the Venezuelan Winter League, during the 1998-99 and
2005-06 seasons. He will again manage the team this
winter.

Pedrique spent three years in the Major Leagues from
1987-89 as an infielder with the New York Mets,
Pittsburgh Pirates, and Detroit Tigers, hitting .247
(111x449) with one home run, 18 doubles, and 36 RBI.
He was named by Baseball Digest as the shortstop for
the All-Rookie Team in 1987.

The Astros have also named Omar Lopez as the Field
Manager of the Astros Venezuelan Summer League team
and the Director of Baseball Administration for the
Astros Venezuelan Academy . Lopez has served as the
hitting and infield coach with the Venezuelan Summer
League Astros since 1999.

In addition the Astros have named Rafael Cariel as
Director of Scouting for Venezuela . Cariel has been
with the organization since 1989 and has served as a
scout and catching instructor.

The Astros Venezuelan Academy opened in 1989, and many
current and former Major Leaguers are alumni of the
academy, including players such as Bobby Abreu, Raul
Chavez, Freddy Garcia, Carlos Guillen, Richard
Hidalgo, Melvin Mora, and Johan Santana. Abreu was
the first player invited to attend the academy, while
Chavez was the first signing. First baseman Roberto
Petagine was the first product of the Astros
Venezuelan Academy to reach the Major Leagues.

— ASTROS —

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