Elarton was chosen by the Astros in the first round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft (25th overall) when he was 18 years old. Foregoing college for the Minor Leagues, Elarton went from the single-A level to triple-A in 1997 and made his Major League debut on June 20, 1998, at 22 years of age.\n', '

He spent most of 1998 as a relief pitcher and registered a 3.32 earned run average, but gave up the game-winning run in the pivotal Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the eventual league champion San Diego Padres. He started 1999 in the bullpen. He was moved to the starting rotation in early July and recorded a 3.48 ERA and 9–5 record.\n', '

Elarton had shoulder surgery after the 1999 season and started 2000 on the disabled list and in Minor League rehabilitation. Despite the injury, he had the best season of his career in 2000, posting a 17–7 record for a poor Astros team that compiled only a 72–90 record. Winning twice as many games as any other pitcher on the team at the hitter-friendly Enron Field while posting a 4.81 ERA, he was named the team\'s Pitcher of the Year.\n', "

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