Jon Singleton (baseball)

Jonathan Lee Singleton (born September 18, 1991) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros in 2014 and 2015.

Not to be confused with John Singleton (baseball).

Jon Singleton
Singleton at spring training in 2015
Diablos Rojos del México
First baseman
Born: (1991-09-18) September 18, 1991
Lakewood, California
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 3, 2014, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
(through 2015 season)
Batting average.171
Home runs14
Runs batted in50
Teams

After growing up in Long Beach, California, Singleton was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009. He was one of several prospects traded to the Astros in exchange for Hunter Pence in 2011. He signed a $10 million contract with the Astros before making his major league debut in 2014, but he struggled, last playing for the Astros in 2015 before they relegated him to the minor leagues and releasing him in 2018.

Early life

Singleton played baseball at Millikan High School in Long Beach, California. He committed to play at California State University, Long Beach a few months before the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.[1]

Career

Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Singleton in the eighth round of the 2009 MLB Draft. He had been projected for selection as high as the second round of the draft, but his senior year statistics caused him to fall a few rounds.[2] Singleton reported to the Gulf Coast League Phillies, where he played 31 minor league games that year. He spent 2010 with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, where he hit for a .290 batting average, 14 home runs and 77 runs batted in (RBI).[3]

Prior to the 2011 season, Singleton was considered the Phillies' second best prospect by Baseball America.[4]

Houston Astros

On July 29, 2011, the Phillies traded Singleton, Jarred Cosart, Josh Zeid, and Domingo Santana to the Houston Astros in exchange for Hunter Pence.[5][6] Baseball America designated Singleton as Houston's top prospect following the 2011 season.[7] He was named to appear in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game.[8]

Singleton tested positive for marijuana in June 2012.[9] He competed in the Arizona Fall League that offseason,[10] and had a second positive test for marijuana in December.[9] On January 9, 2013, Singleton was suspended for 50 games due to his second failed drug test.[11] Singleton said that he had grown up around friends who used the drug and that he had been using it "on and off" since he was 14 years old. He spent a month in a rehabilitation center after the second failed test.[9]

Singleton batting for the Oklahoma City RedHawks in 2013

Following the 2013 season, the Astros added Singleton to their 40 man roster.[12] On June 2, 2014, the Astros signed Singleton to a 5-year contract that guaranteed him $10 million, and could have been worth as much as $35 million.[13][14] The extension was the first to be signed by a drafted player with no major league experience.[15] Singleton was promoted from the Oklahoma City RedHawks of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL) to make his major league debut on June 3.[16]

Singleton made his major league debut for the Astros on June 3, 2014 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.[17] In his first game, he went 1–3 with a home run, 2 RBI's, a walk, and two strikeouts. His first home run, a solo home run, was off of Matt Shoemaker. On June 8, Singleton lined his first career grand slam off of Glen Perkins of the Minnesota Twins at Target Field to help the Astros to a 14–5 win. Teammates Dexter Fowler, Chris Carter, and George Springer also homered (Carter's was also a grand-slam).

On August 2, 2014, Singleton hit an Inside-the-park home run against the Toronto Blue Jays. It was initially ruled an out by the home plate umpire, but was later reversed following a challenge by Astros manager Bo Porter.[18]

The Astros optioned Singleton to the Fresno Grizzlies of the PCL to start the 2015 season.[19] On May 13, 2015, Singleton recorded 10 RBIs, including a grand slam and two-run home run. His 10 RBIs was one short of the modern day PCL record. Singleton had 22 RBI in a five-day span, including 18 in Fresno's four game series in Albuquerque from May 12–15, which included two grand slams.

On November 19, 2016, Singleton was placed on outright waivers by the Astros. He cleared waivers on November 22 and was assigned to Fresno.[20] He played the 2017 season with the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Class AA Texas League, and led all minor leaguers with 500 or more plate appearances with a walk percentage of 26.4%.[21][22]

On May 21, 2018, he was released by the organization while serving a 100 game suspension in the final year of his contract. [23]

Diablos Rojos del México

On April 2, 2020, Singleton signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League.

References
  1. "Jonathan Singleton". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  2. Sickels, John (June 2, 2014). "Houston Astros promote Jon Singleton, sign to long-term contract". minorleagueball.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  3. "Jon Singleton Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  4. Forman, Matt (December 13, 2010). "Philadelphia Phillies top 10 prospects". Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  5. "Phillies acquire Hunter Pence". Espn.go.com. July 31, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  6. Mayo, Jonathan. "Astros land two top prospects, intriguing arm". Houston.astros.mlb.com. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  7. "Jon Singleton, 1b, Astros". Baseball America. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  8. Mayo, Jonathan (June 19, 2012). "Prospects pack rosters for 2012 All-Star Futures Game | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  9. "Jon Singleton, former Millikan player, Astros prospect talks about his drug addiction". Presstelegram.com. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  10. "Astros' Jonathan Singleton shows star potential in AFL | astros.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. March 27, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  11. "Top Astros prospect Jonathan Singleton suspended 50 games | astros.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. June 19, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  12. "The Astros added first baseman Jonathan Singleton to the 40-man roster | astros.com: News". Houston.astros.mlb.com. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  13. "Astros' No. 3 prospect Jon Singleton reportedly called up | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. February 6, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  14. Crasnick, Jerry (June 2, 2014). "Jon Singleton gets long-term deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  15. "Bud Norris: Singleton deal 'terrible'". ESPN.com. June 3, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  16. "Jon Singleton on his way up to Astros, signs new deal". Ultimate Astros. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  17. "Jon Singleton homers in first game as Astros down Angels". ESPN.com news services.
  18. "VIDEO: Jon Singleton hits an inside the park home run". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  19. "Asher Wojciechowski gets spot on team, rotation; Jon Singleton to minors". Ultimate Astros. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  20. Polishuk, Mark (November 19, 2016). "Astros Outright Jon Singleton". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  22. http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-assign-Jon-Singleton-to-Class-AA-Corpus-11047448.php
  23. https://twitter.com/jakemkaplan/status/998724055288205312?s=21
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