Kevin Houston

Kevin Eugene Houston

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.
• High School Liberty (MO) High School

• Born December 7, 1957 in Liberty, MO USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Kevin Houston spent six seasons in the minors, reaching AA.

Houston was picked by the similarly-named Houston Astros in the third round of the 1977 amateur draft. The 66th overall selection, he went one pick before Roger Erickson. Houston made his pro debut with the GCL Astros, going 1-5 with a 4.50 ERA. He allowed 25 hits (no homers) in 36 innings and struck out 44 but also walked 43. He was two losses shy of the Gulf Coast League lead. He split 1978 between the GCL Astros (5-3, 2.70, only 18 BB in 60 IP) and Daytona Beach Astros (0-9, 4.21, 58 BB in 62 IP). He led the Gulf Coast League in strikeouts (65) and 6th in ERA.

From 1979-1981, Houston spent three full years with Daytona Beach. He went 7-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 1979 then fell to 9-6, 5.13 in 1980 when he walked 107 in 135 innings. He led the Florida State League in wild pitches (21) and was third in walks behind Morris Madden and Jim Gott. He was still 5th in strikeouts (120). Given his wildness, he was moved off the mound in 1981 and became an outfielder. He batted .250/.300/.343 with 7 triples and 17 steals (in 28 tries) for Daytona Beach. He still showed off a fine arm, his 11 outfield assists tying for 6th in the FSL.

Houston the team then shipped Houston the player to the Pittsburgh Pirates, along with Randy Niemann and Johnny Ray in return for Phil Garner. Kevin split 1982 between the Alexandria Dukes (1 for 4, BB) and the Buffalo Bisons (.261/.293/.375 in 50 G, fielding only .907). He also pitched one last game, allowing four runs on two hits and two walks in 1/3 of an inning for Buffalo for a 108 ERA.

For his career, the wild lefty was 22-29 with a 4.35 ERA in 78 pitching appearances (71 starts), walking a hefty 330 in 416 1/3 innings. He hit .253/.298/.352 with 7 triples in 585 plate appearances, stealing 18 bases but being gunned down running 15 times.

Sources

• 1978-1983 Baseball Guides