2010 HOUSTON COLLEGE CLASSIC: For the 10th consecutive year, Minute Maid Park will play host to one of the most highly competitive early-season college baseball tournaments in the country as the Houston College Classic returns from March 5-7. This year’s field includes three teams ranked nationally in Baseball America’s preseason poll including No. 1 Texas, No. 5 Rice and No. 11 TCU. Rounding out the field is the University of Houston, Texas Tech and Missouri.

ASTROLINE NEXT WEEK: Chris Sampson is the scheduled guest for next Wednesday’s (2/10) Astroline call-in radio show on KTRH 740 AM at 7 p.m. Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton is the scheduled host each week, live from Sherlock’s Baker Street Pub at 1952 West Gray St. The show is open to the public. Listeners are invited to call into the show at 713-212-5874 or to send questions to Alyson Footer via Twitter at http://twitter.com/alysonfooter. Footer is now on location at Sherlock’s for each Astroline show. Ex-Astros slugger Jimmy Wynn is the scheduled guest for the February 17 show.

SPRING TRAINING 2010: The Astros’ equipment truck departs for Kissimmee, FL on Friday, February 12...first workout for Astros pitchers and catchers is scheduled for February 20...position players first workout will be February 24...the Astros currently have 57 players scheduled to report to Major League camp...Spring Training workouts begin each morning at 9:30 a.m. and are open to the public...Spring Training clubhouse hours (subject to change) for media access will be 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. prior to the workouts...the clubhouse will re-open in the afternoon after the workouts...2010 will mark the 26th season that the Astros have trained at the Osceola County Stadium complex in Kissimmee, FL...SCHEDULE: The Astros open the 2010 Grapefruit League Schedule at home vs. Washington on Thursday, March 4 at 1:05 p.m...for the full 2010 Astros Spring Training schedule, visit www.astros.com.

SPRING TRAINING TICKET UPDATE: Only standing room tickets remain for the Astros-Yankees game scheduled for Saturday, March 20 at Osceola County Stadium. However, tickets remain for all other Astros Spring Training home games...Spring Training tickets can be purchased online at www.astros.com, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting the ticket office at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, FL, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EST).

SCOUTS BIG CELEBRATION: On February 18 at 6 p.m., Minute Maid Park will play host to an event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. As part of the event, which is private, several individuals and organizations will be recognized for their support and dedication to the Boy Scouts. Astros Chairman and CEO Drayton McLane is scheduled to participate in the event. Texas governor Rick Perry and former NASA astronaut Jim Lovell, both of whom are Distinguished Eagle Scouts, are also scheduled to attend. H.E. Bovay, Jr, who is the Sam Houston Area Council’s Elder Statesman, will also be recognized. The event, which is expected to host over 15,000 guests, will be the Boy Scouts’ largest 100th anniversary celebration in the nation.

BOURN COLLECTS ‘COOL’ AWARD: Michael Bourn was at the annual Legacy Awards at the Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City, MO on Saturday night to collect the ‘Cool’ Papa Bell Award as the National League leader in stolen bases. Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan as well as current MLB stars Carlos Pena and Zack Greinke were also recognized at the awards banquet, which serves as a fundraiser for the museum.

SIGNED, SEALED: The Astros signed five more players on Tuesday, all to one-year contracts...they were: RHP Alberto Arias, OF Brian Bogusevic, RHP Sammy Gervacio, OF Yordany Ramirez and LHP Polin Trinidad. The deadline for all 40-man roster players to agree to contracts is March 1st. Clubs can renew unsigned player contracts from March 2-11.

DOWN ON THE FARM: The Astros have hired former Major League pitcher Hector Mercado as pitching coach for their Gulf Coast League affiliate. Mercado, who was drafted by the Astros in 1992, pitched in parts of four seasons in the Ma­jor Leagues for the Reds (2000-01) and Phillies (2002-03). With the addition of Mercado, all of the Astros minor league coaching positions are now filled.

BERKMAN, HOOTEN GOING INTO TEXAS H.O.F.: Astros first baseman Lance Berkman and former pitcher Burt Hooten, who currently serves as pitching coach for Triple A Round Rock, will be inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame on Monday, February 8 in Waco, TX at their annual banquet at Baylor University’s Ferrell Center at 7:00 p.m. Berkman, a lifelong native of Texas, attended Rice University prior to becoming an All-Star with the Houston Astros. Hooten, who won 151 games in his Major League career, pitched three years at the University of Texas, posting a 35-3 career record there while leading the Longhorns to two SWC titles.

NEW ASTROS TICKET PLANS: The Astros have introduced two new ticket plans for 2010 currently available online at www.astros.com. The “Open­ing Day 14-game Flex Plan,” presented by Papa John’s, gives fans the unique opportunity to purchase tickets to Opening Day and the regular season finale along with 12 games of their choice. As an added incentive, the Astros are adding a 15th game for free. Packages start at $98.00. Also, with Valentine’s Day approaching, the Astros are offering the “Valentine’s Day 6-Game Flex Plan” . With this plan, fans have the opportunity to select their six favorite Astros home games during the 2010 regular season (excluding Opening Day). Packages start at $48.00. This offer expires on Friday, February 12.

2009-10 OFFSEASON TRANSACTIONS: Jan. 13: designated OF Jason Bourgeois for assignment (accepted outright assignment to Triple-A Round Rock)...Jan. 12: signed free agent RHP Brett Myers to a one-year contract (with mutual option)...Dec. 18: hired Eric Young as minor league outfield and baserunning instructor...Dec. 16: signed 17-year-old LHP Edgar Ferreira to a minor league contract...Dec. 14: signed free agent OF Jason Mi­chaels to a one-year contract...Dec. 12: signed free agent RHP Brandon Lyon to a three-year contract...Dec. 10: signed free agent 3B Pedro Feliz to a one-year contract...Dec. 9: acquired RHP Matt Lindstrom from Florida in exchange for three minor league players...Dec. 7: RHP Jose Valverde declined salary arbitration...Dec. 1: offered salary arbitration to RHP Jose Valverde, declined to offer arbitration to RHP Doug Brocail, RHP LaTroy Hawkins and IF Miguel Tejada...Nov. 25: RHP Brad James is outrighted to Triple A Round Rock...Nov. 20: signed and placed minor league free agent RHP Jose Valdez and placed him on the 40-man roster; purchased the contracts of RHP Evan Englebrook, RHP Matt Nevarez and RHP Henry Villar...Nov. 5: purchased the contracts of LHP Fernando Abad and IF Wladimir Sutil...Oct. 30: declined the 2010 option on RHP Doug Brocail contract...Oct. 27: Brad Mills is hired as manager; C Chris Coste is outrighted to Tripe A Round Rock (Coste refused assignment)...Oct. 26: claimed OF Jason Bourgeois off waivers from Milwaukee...Oct. 9: IF German Duran, RHP Chad Paronto and RHP Billy Sadler are outrighted to Triple A Round Rock...Oct. 8: mutually agreed to exercise the 2010 option on RHP Brian Moehler’s contract.

ASTROS 40-MAN ROSTER

PITCHERS (22)

Abad, Fernando LHP

Arias, Alberto RHP

Bazardo, Yorman RHP

Byrdak, Tim LHP

Englebrook, Evan RHP

Fulchino, Jeff RHP

Gervacio, Sammy RHP

Lindstrom, Matt RHP

Lopez, Wilton RHP

Lyon, Brandon RHP

Moehler, Brian RHP

Myers, Brett RHP

Nevarez, Matt RHP

Norris, Bud RHP

Oswalt, Roy RHP

Paulino, Felipe RHP

Rodriguez, Wandy LHP

Sampson, Chris RHP

Trinidad, Polin LHP

Valdez, Jose RHP

Villar, Henry RHP

Wright, Wesley LHP

CATCHERS (2)

Quintero, Humberto

Towles, J.R.

INFIELDERS (10)

Berkman, Lance

Blum, Geoff

Feliz, Pedro

Johnson, Chris

Keppinger, Jeff

Manzella, Tommy

Matsui, Kazuo

Maysonet, Edwin

Sutil, Wladimir

Vallejo, Jose

OUTFIELDERS (6)

Bogusevic, Brian

Bourn, Michael

Lee, Carlos

Michaels, Jason

Pence, Hunter

Ramirez, Yordany

As of 2/4/10, 40 under control

NON-ROSTER (17)

PITCHERS (7)

Banks, Josh RHP

Chacin, Gustavo LHP

Corcoran, Roy RHP

Daigle, Casey RHP

Lo, Chia-Jen RHP

Loux, Shane RHP

Majewski, Gary RHP

CATCHERS (4)

Cash, Kevin

Castro, Jason

Esposito, Brian

Santangelo, Lou

INFIELDERS (3)

Meyer, Drew

Navarro, Oswaldo

Shelton, Chris

OUTFIELDERS (3)

Bourgeois, Jason

Romero, Alex

Sullivan, Cory