Jack Cassel #65

Full name JOSEP H BUREN (Jack) CASSEL ... Resides: Santa Monica, CA...Attended Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA...Married, wife's name is Julie...One daughter, Nellie (9/22/08)...Younger brother, Matt, started 15 games for the New England Patriots in 2008, throwing 21 touchdowns (Matt played college ball at USC)...Another younger brother, Justin, was the Chicago White Sox's 7th round pick in the 2006 draft from UC Irvine and pitched last season at AA Birmingham (10-4, 3.11ERA, 28GS)...Mother, Barbara, is an 2007 Emmy Award-winning Set Decorator...He and Cincinnati Reds OF Chris Dickerson, have started a non-profit organization entitled "We Play Green"...The organization promotes environmental awareness with players like Josh Barfield, Chase Utley & Ryan Braun joining the cause for 2009.

2008

Signed by the Astros in December of 2007 as a 6-year minor league free agent... Was 1-1 with a 5.64 ERA (19ER/30.1IP) in nine games (three starts) for Houston...Was recalled four times from Triple A Round Rock in 2008...Made his longest career relief appearance on Sept. 7 at COL by tossing 4.0 innings in relief of injured starter Wandy Rodriguez...Tied as the club's longest relief appearance this season...Picked up his second career victory on April 24 at CIN in his first Major League appearance of the 2008 season (5.0IP, 7H, 3R/ER)...Spent the majority of 2008 with Triple A Round Rock and posted a 9-5 record and a 3.69 ERA (44ER/107.1IP) in 19 games (17 starts)...From April through July, posted a 7-1 record and a 1.98 ERA (16ER/72.2IP) in 13 appearances (11 starts) for the Express.

2007

Pitched in six games for the Padres, making four starts...went 1-1 with a 3.97 ERA (10ER/22.2IP), five walks and 11 strikeouts for San Diego...allowed two runs over 4.2 innings Sept. 27 at MIL...tagged with his first Major League loss on Sept. 22 vs. COL, allowing three runs over 2.1 frames...earned his first Major League victory with 6.0 shutout innings Sept. 17 vs. PIT...recalled from Portland and made his first career start Aug. 31 vs. LAD...received a no-decision and allowed three runs in 5.2 innings...had his contract purchased from Portland on Aug. 10, making his Major League debut that night, tossing 3.0 innings of relief in the Padres 11-inning, 12-7 win in Cincinnati...optioned back to Portland on Aug. 11...spent the majority of the year with Triple A Portland, appearing in 27 games (24 starts) for the Beavers...went 7-14 with a 3.91 ERA (68ER/156.2IP) in 27 games (24 starts) with the Beavers in 2007...was 6-14 with a 4.13 ERA (68ER/148.1IP) in his 24 starts with three complete games...1-0 with 8.1 scoreless innings of work (three games) out of the bullpen...his ERA ranked third in the Pacific Coast League while his 117 strikeouts ranked ninth...was the lone Portland representative at the Triple A All-Star Game, working 2.0 innings and allowing one run on two hits and three strikeouts in the PCL's loss to the International League on July 11 in Albuquerque.