 In 2005, he led the Corpus Christi Hooks with 58 RBI and earned Texas League All-Star honors.He hit .273 (75-for-275) with eight home runs and 37 RBI in 76 games for the Round Rock Express in his first season at the Triple-A level in 2006.He made his major league debut with the Astros on September 25, 2006 striking out as a pinch hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies.