By SAM KHAN JR. Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle Sept. 1, 2010, 9:44AM The Astros will welcome five new faces on Wednesday as teams will be allowed to expand their active rosters. The team will recall outfielder/first baseman Brian Bogusevic, infielder Matt Downs, righthander Henry Villar and lefthander Wesley Wright and will also purchase the contract of catcher Brian Esposito. Bogusevic, a converted pitcher, batted .278 with 13 homers, 57 RBIs and has stolen 23 bases in 130 games for Class AAA Round Rock. The 26-year-old is in his second full season as a position player after being drafted as pitcher in 2005 . "From start to finish, he’s really taken a step forward offensively," Astros assistant general manager Ricky Bennett said. "The last four-to-five weeks, he ’s been taking a lot of ground balls at first base to increase his versatility." Downs has hit .244 with seven homers and 32 RBIs combined at Class AAA Round Rock, Fresno and the Rookie Arizona League Giants. The Astros claimed the 26-year-old off waivers from San Francisco on Aug. 22. He played 29 games for the Giants this season, hitting .244 with a homer and seven RBIs while primarily working as a second baseman. The 31-year-old Esposito hit .205 (40x195) with two home runs and 18 RBIs in 58 games with Round Rock and Class AA Corpus Christi this year. The 23-year-old Villar is 4-7 with a 4.15 ERA in 36 appearances (11 starts) with Corpus Christi this season and sports a 3.14 ERA in his 25 relief appearances. Wright, 25, is making his third appearance on the Astros active roster this season. He is 1-2 with a 6.28 ERA in 10 apperances (four starts) with the Astros this season. The Astros will transfer righthander Brian Moehler from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list in order to make room for Esposito on the 40-man roster. Moehler has been on the disabled list since July 8 and will undergo surgery on Wednesday in Philadelphia to repair a muscle in his lower abdomen. Staff writer Zachary Levine contributed. [email protected] --

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