"Who's on first?" could be a question for the Houston Astros throughout the season.
As part of a Q&A with Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle, Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow offered some insight into the position battle, saying that whoever is named the Opening Day starter at first won't be guaranteed the full-time job.
"We've got good options and we've got multiple options, and I also don't feel like we have to have a final answer Opening Day," Luhnow said. "Our first baseman Opening Day may be different than our first baseman on May 1 and on June 1 ... and these guys know it. This is a team that's expected to contend. ... Everybody is going to have to pull their weight. There's not going to be anybody on that 25-man roster that's not going to [be] contributing towards wins, or else they'll be replaced by somebody else."
Among the names competing at first are former top prospect Jon Singleton and current prospects A.J. Reed, Tyler White and Colin Moran. Matt Duffy, who made his major league debut last season, is also in the mix. White (6-for-17), Reed (5-for-14) and Moran (4-for-10) are off to hot starts at the plate this spring, while Duffy (3-for-15; all three hits are home runs) and Singleton (2-for-19) have posted mixed results.
"Everybody is keeping their name in front of our minds, and if they all play well all spring, we just have a decision to make," Luhnow said."It's going to be someone that's won the job, not someone that has had a poor spring and is just given the job."
Singleton is listed as the starting first baseman on the team's depth chart, but his poor performance this spring could alter his status.
Meanwhile, Houston's starting rotation is another area that could see some change throughout the season. The Astros have Doug Fister, Scott Feldman and Mike Fiers all battling for the last two spots in their rotation, and Luhnow believes all three will get the chance to hold a starting job.
"All three of them in my mind are starting pitchers," Luhnow said. "Now, one of them may end up in the bullpen just out of necessity. But I think all three guys are going to end up making a lot of starts for us this year, that's my guess."
