HEY, ROOK

Will Deshaun Watson be Houston’s next big rookie? A look at how other first-year Bayou City players in the NFL, NBA and MLB performed in their debut seasons::

LARRY DIERKER ASTROS • 1964

He made his debut on his 18th birthday, going 0-1 in three appearances (one start) with a 2.00 ERA.

JOE MORGAN ASTROS • 1965

Morgan played eight games with the Colt .45s in 1963 and 10 more in 1964, but 1965 officially was his rookie season. The 21-yearold second baseman hit .271 with 14 home runs and finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

CESAR CEDEÑO ASTROS • 1970

At just 19 years old, he hit .310 with 7 homers and 42 RBIs in 90 games to finish fourth in NL Rookie of the Year balloting.

JOHN LUCAS ROCKETS • 1976-77

Averaged 11.1 points and 5.6 assists to earn All-Rookie honors after being drafted first overall.

EARL CAMPBELL OILERS • 1978

First overall pick in the draft had an immediate impact, leading the league with 1,450 yards rushing and winning Rookie of the Year honors.

RALPH SAMPSON ROCKETS • 1983-84

After being taken No. 1 overall, he averaged 21 points and 11.1 rebounds to take Rookie of the Year honors.

HAKEEM OLAJUWON ROCKETS • 1984-85

The top pick in the draft and UH great started all 82 games and average 20.6 points and 11.9 rebounds to earn a spot on the All-Rookie first team.

ERNEST GIVINS OILERS • 1986

The diminutive receiver was drafted in the second round, but he was plugged into the starting lineup right away and produced 61 catches for 1,062 yards as a rookie.

CRAIG BIGGIO ASTROS • 1988

The then-catcher debuted a year after being a first-round pick, hitting .211 with 3 homers and 5 RBIs in 50 games.

JEFF BAGWELL ASTROS • 1991

Had an immediate impact after moving from third base to first, hitting .294 with 15 homers and 82 RBIs to win NL Rookie of the Year honors.

ROBERT HORRY ROCKETS • 1992-93

Drafted to the chagrin of some who wanted Harold “Baby Jordan” Miner, Horry averaged 10.1 points and was on the All-Rookie second team.

SAM CASSELL ROCKETS • 1993-94

Only made six starts in 66 regular-season games (averaging 6.7 points) but emerged in the postseason, making some big shots to help the team win its first championship.

STEVE MCNAIR OILERS • 1995

Taken third in the draft, he started two games as a rookie and four in his second year, winning four of six starts. Franchise moved to Tennessee before fans got to see his full potential.

EDDIE GEORGE OILERS • 1996

In a forgotten season for the Oilers since it was their final year in Houston, George had a sensational rookie season, rushing for 1,368 yards and being named the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

STEVE FRANCIS ROCKETS • 1999-00

Acquired via trade after being taken second in the draft, he averaged 18 points and 6.6 assists en route to winning Rookie of the Year.

LANCE BERKMAN ASTROS • 2000

Berkman played briefly for the Astros in 1999, but 2000 is officially his rookie season. He hit .297 with 21 home runs that season.

ROY OSWALT ASTROS • 2001

Oswalt was promoted to the big leagues early in the 2001 season and went 14-3 with a 2.73 ERA. He finished second behind Albert Pujols in National League Rookie of the Year voting and was fifth in the NL Cy Young voting.

DAVID CARR TEXANS • 2002

The draft’s top pick was buried behind a subpar offensive line, getting sacked a record 76 times. That would be a recurring theme during his Houston tenure.

YAO MING ROCKETS • 2002-03

Big man taken with the draft’s first pick started 72 of 82 games, averaging 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds. He was named to the All-Rookie first team.

ANDRE JOHNSON TEXANS • 2003

The franchise’s first true star caught 66 passes for 976 yards and 4 touchdowns as a rookie, a prelude to a distinguished career.

MARIO WILLIAMS TEXANS • 2006

Much-debated No. 1 pick had 4.5 sacks in 16 starts as a rookie. He then had a careerbest 14 the following year.

HUNTER PENCE ASTROS • 2007

Called up early in the season from Class AAA, he batted .322 with 17 homers and 69 RBIs in 108 games to finish third in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

BRIAN CUSHING TEXANS • 2009

First-round pick had an immediate impact with 86 tackles, 4 sacks and 4 interceptions, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

JOSE ALTUVE ASTROS • 2011

Altuve was called up directly from Class AA and put right into the starting lineup in the middle of a 106-loss season. Altuve hit .276 with 10 doubles and a pair of home runs in 57 games.

J.J. WATT TEXANS • 2011

He made his presence known, with 4.5 sacks in 16 starts. Then he added a memorable picksix in playoff win over Cincinnati.

JADEVEON CLOWNEY TEXANS • 2014

His rookie season was lost to injury after just four games (two starts). Didn’t get fully healthy until his third season.

GEORGE SPRINGER ASTROS • 2014

Clubbed 20 homers and drove in 51 runs in 78 games and appeared on a Sports Illustrated cover before his season was ended by injury.

CARLOS CORREA ASTROS • 2015

First overall pick in 2012 made his MLB debut three years later. Hit .279 with 22 homers and 68 RBIs to capture AL Rookie of the Year honors.