Less than three weeks remain until Opening Day, and the Houston Astros' first base competition remains wide open.
The favorite heading in the spring appeared to be Jon Singleton, who in 2014 signed a controversial deal that guaranteed him $10 million before he appeared in a big league game. Singleton, however, is having an awful spring with a .103 batting average and 12 strikeouts in 29 at-bats.
Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow tells Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that Singleton still “has a chance to help us out,” but the contract will not factor into the decision.
Matt Duffy, A.J. Reed and Tyler White also are in the mix. “I think they’ve all shown flashes of what they can do, but none of them have won the job yet,” manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Tuesday.
A few days ago, ESPN’s Buster Olney heard that there is plenty of talk in Astros camp that Duffy could end up as an “important option” at first base. The 27-year-old was called up at the end of last season after posting an .850 OPS with 104 RBI at Triple-A Fresno.
Duffy owns a 1.103 OPS with three homers this spring, while Reed (.725 OPS) and White (.904 OPS) also are raking in Cactus League play. Luhnow told Bowden he sees a scenario where both Reed and White could make the club, depending on the health of Evan Gattis.
Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle writes Singleton is wasting another chance at a starting job.
