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Bruntlett - the son of Craig and Angela Bruntlett, both 1967 graduates of PHS - grew up in Lafayette, Ind., and played collegiately at Stanford, where he played in the College World Series twice. He was drafted in the ninth round by Houston in 1999.

Bruntlett, who plays shortstop and second base, was hitting .265 with two home runs and 27 RBIs for the Class AAA New Orleans Zephyrs before being called up last week. He was second on the Zephyrs with 45 runs, 79 hits, and nine stolen bases.

Bruntlett took the roster spot of veteran Jose Vizcaino, who broke his left arm when he was hit by a pitch. Vizcaino will be out of the lineup up to eight weeks.

"I couldn't even talk," said Bruntlett, according to the Astros' website, after being called up to the Major Leagues. "I didn't know how to react. I'm very excited. I called my family back in the Midwest. Everybody was asleep, but I didn't care. I woke up everybody."

As of Monday, Bruntlett had played in three games for the Astros. He was hitless in seven at bats but flawless in the field.