Houston Astros call up Fresno Grizzlies slugger Jon Singleton

Moments after the Fresno Grizzlies lost to Sacramento at Chukchansi Park despite a pair of home runs from Jon Singleton, a visiting player voiced what some from the home team had been wondering.

“What the heck is Singleton doing here?” a River Cats player said late Thursday. “We could use him in the majors.”

The Houston Astros apparently had asked themselves that question enough, too, finally deciding to give the left-handed hitter his first call-up of 2015.

Singleton was in uniform in time for Houston’s game Friday against the New York Yankees, taking a roster spot that opened when reliever Chad Qualls went on the 15-day disabled list.

The 23-year-old Singleton has had one of the most dominant first halves in Grizzlies franchise history, leading all of Triple-A with 17 home runs, 56 runs, 66 RBIs and 47 walks while batting .280 with a .387 on-base percentage.

During one stretch that began in late May, Singleton went 98 at-bats without hitting a homer. But he had launched three home runs in his past three games, all against Sacramento.

Among Singleton’s blasts was an opposite-field, two-run shot against San Francisco Giants right-hander Matt Cain, who was making a rehab start.

Singleton has crushed right-handers, batting .325 with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs in 160 at-bats. Against lefties, he is hitting .212 with four homers and 18 RBIs in 104 at-bats.

Defensively, he had shown improvement, looking more comfortable while fielding his position at first base and also in making throws to second.

“Singy has been hitting home runs and RBIs for us all year,” Grizzlies manager Tony DeFrancesco said. “And defensively, he’s made some big strides.

“He’s become more confident and shown selectivity at the plate. How long he stays up there, that’ll be up to Singy. I know they’re looking for some power.”

Singleton earned a call-up to the majors last year, when he was with the Astros’ then-Triple-A team in Oklahoma City. In the majors, he hit .168 but with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs in 310 at-bats.

The arrival of Singleton this year in Houston figures to cut into the playing time of first baseman Chris Carter (.198, 12 HR) and designated hitter Evan Gattis (.234, 13 HR), who both bat right-handed.

Singleton is the fifth Grizzlies position player to get called up, joining shortstop Carlos Correa and outfielders Preston Tucker, Domingo Santana and L.J. Hoes, who’s back with Fresno.

“That’s how it goes at this level,” DeFrancesco said. “We have guys do well, they get promoted. Other guys have to step up.”

This story was originally published June 26, 2015 at 7:26 PM with the headline "Houston Astros call up Fresno Grizzlies slugger Jon Singleton."