The Astros have reunited with first baseman Jon Singleton on a minor league contract, The Athletic’s Chandler Rome reports. Singleton had been a free agent since the Mets released him from a previous minors deal earlier this week.
This marks the third separate stint for Singleton with the Astros. Initially obtained in a trade with the Phillies back in July 2011, Singleton rose to prominence as a highly-touted prospect in Houston’s farm system, and even signed a five-year extension worth $10MM in guaranteed money before he had even made his MLB debut. However, Singleton didn’t live up to those big expectations, and hit .171/.290/.331 over 420 plate appearances in 2014-15 before disappearing off the big league map for the better part of a decade. He didn’t play at all from 2018-20 as he served a 100-game suspension and battled substance abuse problems, and then played in the Mexican League in 2021 and then back in affiliated ball in the Brewers’ farm system in 2022.
Returning to the Show with Milwaukee in 2023, Singleton was released partway through that season and returned to Houston for the next two years. Singleton ended up receiving quite a bit of playing time at first base in the wake of Jose Abreu’s struggles and eventual release partway through the 2024 campaign, and Singleton hit a respectable .234/.321/.386 with 13 homers over 405 PA in 2024. This offensive production translated to a decent 105 wRC+, but Singleton was still a -0.1 fWAR player overall due to a lack of glovework or baserunning.
Christian Walker’s signing seemingly locked down the Astros’ first base position for the next three years, and Houston released Singleton at the end of Spring Training prior to Singleton landing with the Mets about a week later. Despite an upward mobility clause Singleton triggered in his minors deal in May, New York never called up him to the big leagues, and the Mets eventually decided to part ways entirely with the infielder.
Though Walker hasn’t hit up to expectations, there isn’t much chance Singleton will be stepping back into regular duty at first base. With seven position players currently on the injured list, the Astros are thin on experienced roster depth, so Singleton provides a familiar face and some experience at Triple-A Sugar Land. Singleton is also a left-handed hitter, which could get him a relatively quick call to the Show to help out an Astros lineup that is very heavy in right-handed bats.
He is… inevitable
The circle is complete.
The gift that keeps on NOT giving…
Bless his heart he keeps trying though. Wild that its been over a decade since his debut.
Agreed. Can’t not root for the guy.
Cant not not root for him either.
Slim pickins…
They just can’t quit each other
Probably an agent favor. Happens a lot on these minor deals.
He is a draw for AAA
Singleton A at this point
The funniest thing about this is that Singleton’s 2024 season is actually better than who they paid 60 million dollars for in Walker.
In your opinion otherwise not true
What a weird career trajectory. He could have taken the money quit and lived a decent life but he still wants to grind it out.
Fat boy comes crawling home like the prodical son!
He’s a lot better than you at baseball
Yet still should not be within 100 miles of a major league roster.
100 miles from a major league roster is closer than however many miles cooperhill will be
Prodigal
Gal
Why do the Astros scrape the bottom of the barrel looking for talent that isn’t there ?
Maybe Singleton is a stop gap backup plan until they can sign Rowdy Tellez at prorated league minimum in a week or so. Still bottom of the barrel, but at least Tellez has been facing major league pitching all year.
I get that Astro fans aren’t jumping up and down but it’s cool that he’s back there. I don’t know why the Astros or Major League Baseball for that matter made Singleton’s smoking marijuana to be like he was shooting heroin. I mean dude had $10 million dollars, I don’t think he was out there robbing old ladies to support his weed habit. I wonder how he feels now with the change in attitude just in general around the country about marijuana. I’m not saying it changes anything, yes marijuana can be misused. It Would be pretty interesting to hear his thoughts on it. I’ll bet you he tells you that marijuana is bad, very bad!! Lololol. Just saying…
Singleton, huh? Sigh. He will share a room with Forrest Whitley while they are on the road. I don’t care whether some or all players have private rooms; these two guys can carry there own luggage and bring in the donuts for the clubbies on getaway day. This really ought to tell us loud and clear just how bad the Astros’ farm system truly is.
Whitley hasn’t been on the team for like 2 weeks