The Astros announced Monday that they’ve optioned struggling outfielder Corey Julks to Triple-A Sugar Land. Houston is off for the day, so a corresponding move wasn’t announced, but general manager Dana Brown said just yesterday that the club has been considering a promotion of former top prospect Jon Singleton (link via Chandler Rome of The Athletic). Houston would need to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Singleton if he is indeed called up.
Julks, 27, has been on Houston’s roster since Opening Day but has seen his playing time dwindle in recent weeks as the roster has gotten healthier and as his own production has waned. The 2017 eighth-rounder had a string of four consecutive multi-hit games in early July, but after collecting 11 hits in four days, he’s gone just 3-for-54 in his past 19 games (15 starts).
Julks hit .289/.333/.418 through his first 249 plate appearances this season but did so in large part because of a bloated .365 average on balls in play. That good fortune has completely evaporated (.071 BABIP during this slump), and the rookie outfielder is now hitting just .245/.299/.353 on the season (with a .306 BABIP that’s right in line with league average levels). He’s striking out at a higher-than-average 23.5% mark, while his 7.1% walk rate, 87.7 mph average exit velocity and 34.9% hard-hit rate are all lower than average.
The Astros have been without much in the way of left-handed bats throughout the season, thanks to multiple setbacks in Michael Brantley’s return from shoulder surgery and an oblique strain that sent Yordan Alvarez to the injured list for more than a month. Singleton could give the ’Stros a left-handed bat to help balance things out — if he can sustain any semblance of the minor league production he’s shown this year.
Singleton, 31, is a former Astros top prospect who took considerable flak for signing a five-year, $10MM extension with multiple club options before setting foot in the Majors. Critics at the time lamented that the young slugger had sold himself short, but in retrospect Singleton may well be glad he took that deal. No one can say precisely how things would’ve panned out at he declined the offer, but a then 22-year-old Singleton hit just .171/.290/.333 in multiple auditions with the Astros before eventually being released four years later, in 2018.
Out of baseball entirely from 2018-20, Singleton raked in the Mexican League in 2021 and parlayed that performance into minor league deals with the Brewers in 2022 and again this year. Milwaukee even brought Singleton back to the Majors earlier this season — his first MLB action since 2015. That promotion came on the heels of a .258/.384/.483 slash in Triple-A, but Singleton went just 3-for-29 with 11 strikeouts in 32 plate appearances during his brief time as a Brewer. He signed back with the Astros after being released and has since been on a tear in Triple-A.
In 148 trips to the plate with the Space Cowboys, Singleton has batted .333/.446/.692 with a dozen home runs, seven doubles, a 17.6% walk rate and a 23% strikeout rate. For a team that’s been seeking a left-handed bat for some time now, there’s little harm in giving Singleton at least a short-term look — particularly when at least one member of the bench group is struggling to the extent Julks has been of late.
Notably, Rome writes that Brown implied a trade for a left-handed bat never got all that close. Brown indicated that the teams with which he inquired were typically seeking a player of Houston’s Major League roster, and he was not inclined to “weaken our club while we were trying to strengthen our club.” The summer trade market was particularly thin on lefty bats. Switch-hitters Jeimer Candelario (a better right-handed hitter), Josh Bell and Carlos Santana were moved, as was utilityman Jace Peterson, but generally speaking it was a pitching-heavy slate of players that changed hands this summer.
Mr. 9 Lives Singleton.
Even if he comes back and does his best Ohtani impression, that was still a bad deal.
How would his 2023 performance have anything to do with a deal that has long since expired?
Sunk Cost Fallacy
Raking in the Mexican league is kind of a given
He’ll have plenty of shots in August to prove himself since the Astros can run out a few different lineups. He’ll most likely be DH or 1st base since you can’t really do any worse than Abreu who’s hitting .230 and making a lot of errors on grounders to 1st lately. This lineup would give them the Right, Left, Right alternative they want until/if Brantley comes back:
– Altuve, Pena, Alvarez, Bregman, Tucker, Diaz, Singleton, McCormick, Meyers
Not really gambling on anything there because your alternatives are Maldonado and Dubon which you could switch with McCormick or Meyers.
Teach your kids to play catcher and hit and pitch lefty and they got a better shot of playing pro ball.
Yeah, no his deal wouldn’t be worth it considering he already played out the deal.
Singleton gota B excited w/anticipation, just waiting 4that call n when he answers he’s gonna say “High!”
Shocking to see them send him down. He has been with team ALL season. But maybe for a couple weeks so can find his stroke. He might come back Sept 1 for Yankees. Singleton is raking in minors for Houston. But whether Houston takes a chance could spell Abreu as he is not looking good. Even though August has been a great month for him that was his time with Chicago and was that Bagwell convinced Crane to get him for first. Would Houston be where are or better if kept Yuli for this season. Then look in off season. But am sure looking for someone to take over at first. I want the best for the remaining time this season.
Like the article pointed out, though, he’s been abysmal as of late. A 3-for-54 slump is not going to cut it, and he’s running an 80 OPS+ at this point.
If Singletons sticks that would be quite the developmental success story. Its a shame Houston’s ability to extract value from a supposedly barren farm system is overshadowed by Atlanta.
IMO, there’s good reason to think Singleton has finally figured things out, as his K:BB ratio has improved dramatically this season. Good on him for having the resilience to make it this far back. I hope he gets his chance.
Shocking that Julks was optioned but not Pena. They are having virtually the same season.
.245/.299/.353 4.7% barrel 35.3% hard hit rate
.239/.300/.368 4.7% barrel 36.9% hard hit rate
Even with the sophomore slump Pena has been worth 1.8 WAR and he plays shortstop.
If you look at his stats and his baseball savant page, this isn’t a slump. This is who he is
From what his mind league numbers show, he developed power as he progressed through the system. Brantley has missed the entire season and large chunks for Altuve and Alvarez. Hard to think the injuries haven’t affected the rest of the lineup.
Personally, I’m A believer in Pena and think he will eventually have his offensive breakout. At absolute worst, his defense gives him a floor of a second division player. Hardly a piece to throw away, especially given Houston’s lack of replacements.
Pena is a gold glover at shortstop….Julks is a 5th/6th outfielder
Not at all surprising considering Pena is above average at both D and baserunning, two facets of the game that Julks isn’t even average at while playing a less premium position.
One plays a premium position…
I’m still shocked the Astros are giving this guy a chance after he signed that contract and became “addicted” to marijuana. Screwed them over is what he did.
Yeah the Astros were really screwed by a $10mm/5yr contract. Great point.
If you don’t think they gave a young unproven guy 10 million dollars expecting something in return you’re crazy. He took the money and pretty much ran. 10 million is alot to give someone for nothing in return. I couldn’t care less about how that kind of money is nothing in baseball terms but think about it.
this a strange thing to be bothered by
If it was the real world and not major league baseball he wouldn’t have been rehired. That’s all.
It’s just a comment. Don’t add to it kid. Just a simple comment.
you’re one of those “kids would have money to buy a house if they quit buying $5 coffee and avacado toast” guys, right?