Chris Sampson

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**Chris Sampson**

Houston Astros — No. 43
Starting Pitcher
Born: May 23, 1978 (1978-05-23) (age 30)
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
June 2, 2006 for the Houston Astros
Selected MLB statistics (through 2007)
Win-Loss	9-9
Earned Run Average	4.05
Strikeouts	66
Teams
Houston Astros (2006-present)

Christopher Keith Sampson (born May 23, 1978 in Channelview, Texas, United States) is a right-handed, Major League pitcher for the Houston Astros. Sampson is 6'0", and started his Major League Baseball career on June 2, 2006 when he entered a blowout game for the Houston Astros against the Cincinnati Reds in relief of starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez.

Sampson originally began his professional baseball career in the late 1990s as a shortstop. After batting .239, and hitting only one home run during the 1999 season in Class A baseball, Sampson decided to retire since his chances of making the Major Leagues were slim due to his poor batting stats. In the years following his retirement, he coached baseball for Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas, just outside of Dallas, where he would frequently throw batting practice. It was then that he realized his potential as a pitcher.

In 2003, Sampson contacted the Astros for a try-out as a pitcher. Astros Assistant General Manager Tim Purpura was impressed with Sampson's pitching ability and signed him to a minor league contract. Sampson developed as a pitcher, and impressed the Astros with his performance at Triple A Round Rock Express where he began the 2006 baseball season with a 7-1 record and a 2.64 ERA in 10 starts. His performance resulted in the Astros purchasing Sampson's contract on July 1, 2006.

Sampson made his first Major League start for the Astros on June 7, 2006. He threw a no-hitter into the fifth inning and eventually gave up three hits and no runs in seven innings pitched on his way to a 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs. Interestingly, in this effort he recorded no strikeouts; 16 of his 21 batters retired were put away on ground balls. The only run came from a Brad Ausmus home run

Coming out of spring training, Sampson was named the 5th starter in the Astros rotation for the 2007 season.

[edit] Personal life

He got married at home plate of Minute Maid Park over the 2006-07 offseason

On May 15, 2007, Sampson was with his wife, Heather, as she delivered the couple's first child, an 8-pound, 14-ounce boy named C.J. The next day, Sampson pitched 6 innings, giving up 7 hits, allowing 1 run and struck out Barry Bonds in a 2-1 victory. Before the game the umpires made him take off his hospital wristband.