Fresno Grizzlies: Houston Astros prospect Jon Singleton continues to slug away in May

Fresno Grizzlies slugger Jon Singleton hasn’t become just a home run machine.

With help of teammates getting on base in front of him, Singleton has turned into a grand-slam generator.

In a five-game run that began Monday, the Houston Astros prospect launched five home runs — three of them with the bases loaded.

In that stretch, the 23-year-old left-handed hitter also amassed 23 RBIs.

“You can see his confidence level is real high,” Grizzlies manager Tony DeFrancesco said. “He’s seeing the ball well. He’s selective at the plate. It’s just fun to watch him play right now.”

Singleton, who spent parts of the previous two seasons in Triple-A, was leading Triple-A hitters with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs entering Saturday. He was tied for the lead with 23 walks to go with his .262 average and is homering to all parts of the park lately.

In an 8-3 win Friday at Albuquerque, Singleton connected on a full-count, 95-mph fastball from Colorado Rockies top pitching prospect Jon Gray for a grand slam over the right-field wall. On Wednesday, when he had his record-setting RBI night in a 17-6 pounding of the Isotopes, Singleton hit a grand slam to right and an inning later a two-run homer to center.

In a 6-4 win Tuesday at Albuquerque, Singleton crushed a three-run homer to center field.

And the hot streak started Monday afternoon as the Grizzlies closed a homestand at Chukchansi Park. Facing a defensive shift toward right field, Singleton hit a grand slam over the left-field wall.

“Just hot,” Singleton said when reached by The Bee on Friday. “I know I’m swinging the bat well. But I’m still not trying to do too much. Just trying to stay in my comfort level and hit what I can.”

Singleton also isn’t thinking about a call-up to the Astros, though his performance no doubt has caught the parent club’s attention. He is merely focused on producing and keeping his persona on an even keel.

“Bases loaded, bases empty, I treat it like any other at-bat; don’t treat it any different,” Singleton said. “I’m going to go up there and be successful and hit the ball hard and help my team win. That’s all I think about.”

This story was originally published May 16, 2015 at 10:19 PM with the headline "Fresno Grizzlies: Houston Astros prospect Jon Singleton continues to slug away in May."