Jon Singleton

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Houston Astros #7 prospect in 2014
  Acquired from the Phillies in the 2011 Hunter Pence trade, Singleton got in on the ground floor of the Astros' rebuilding effort. By the time 2012 ended, he appeared to be on track to be Houston's everyday first baseman at some point in 2013. Instead, Singleton drew a 50-game suspension following a second positive test for marijuana. He was out of shape when he returned from his suspension at the end of May, struggled at Triple-A Oklahoma City and was pointedly not included among the club's September callups. While Singleton may have had a disastrous 2013 season, he still ranks among the best first-base prospects in the game. He shows excellent bat speed, draws walks and has plus raw power. While he struggled to make contact in 2013, he did show more willingness to pull the ball when he got pitches to drive. He needs to do a better job of hanging in versus lefthanders, but when he's locked in, he hits screaming line drives to all fields. He's an average first baseman with solid hands but a poor arm. He's a below-average runner. The Astros added Singleton to the 40-man roster on Oct. 2, nearly two months before they needed to for Rule 5 draft purposes, and he no longer will be tested for recreational drugs. A powerful performance in the Puerto Rican League helped him make up for lost time. Singleton will return to Triple-A to begin 2014, but he should be in Houston at some point in 2014. He still has middle-of-the-order potential.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #2 prospect in 2013
  The son of a former Oregon quarterback, Singleton signed with the Phillies for $200,000 in 2009, then was traded to Houston with righthanders Jarred Cosart and Josh Zeid and outfielder Domingo Santana in the 2011 Hunter Pence deal. He set career highs with 27 doubles, 21 homers and 88 walks in his first full season as an Astro. Singleton has a smooth swing with strength, and he knows his strike zone well. He uses his advanced plate discipline to focus on a particular hitting zone, takes aim and unleashes his well above-average raw power. He has a knack for hitting, showing enough bat speed to turn on fastballs while also using the whole field. Advanced lefthanders with good breaking balls still can handle him. Singleton has the tools to be an average first baseman but made too many careless errors in 2012. He's a well below-average defender in left field, where his lack of speed and arm strength hinder him. Scouts would like to see him play with more energy. Singleton remains the best first-base prospect in baseball. Brett Wallace hasn't sewn up the big league job, leaving the door open for Singleton as soon as he proves he's ready. His next stop is Triple-A Oklahoma City.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #1 prospect in 2012
  The Astros scouted Singleton heavily for the 2009 draft, Bobby Heck's second as scouting director. Singleton had a subpar senior season at Millikan High in Long Beach and fell to the eighth round, where he signed with the Phillies for $200,000. Almost immediately, he outperformed his draft round. He tore up the low Class A South Atlantic League in the first half of 2010, and though he cooled off afterward, he still ranked as the circuit's No. 1 prospect at season's end. With Ryan Howard signed through 2016, Philadelphia moved Singleton to left field in instructional league after the 2010 season, then moved him to Houston last July. He accompanied righthanders Jarred Cosart and Josh Zeid and outfielder Domingo Santana in a deal Hunter Pence. One Phillies official said of all the prospects his team has traded the last three years--a group that also includes Carlos Carrasco, Travis d'Arnaud, Kyle Drabek, Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar--Singleton has the highest upside. Scouts use words like "explosive" and "impact" when describing Singleton's bat. He has pure hitting skills with emerging home run power. He uses the whole field naturally while showing the bat speed to turn on good fastballs. He has the barrel awareness, hitting rhythm and timing teams want in a middle-of-the-order threat. He draws power from both his lower half and his strong hands and wrists. Singleton's well above-average pop presently plays more as average, as he's too patient at times and lets pitches go by that he should drive. He has advanced pitch recognition for his experience level, though, which should allow his power to grow as he gains experience. The biggest concern will be how fares against lefthanders. Scouts say he hangs in well against breaking balls for his age, but he batted .248 with no homers against southpaws in 153 at-bats in 2011. While he's not as athletic as his father Herb, who played quarterback for Oregon in the early 1970s, Singleton is "baseball athletic," as one Astros official put it, with good body control and coordination. He's better defensively at first base than in left field, where his well below-average speed was a hindrance. Houston still could give him some time in left to maintain some versatility but prefers him at first, where he has nimble feet. He has enough arm strength for first base and makes accurate throws. One scout expressed some trepidation that Singleton could get too big and immobile if he doesn't watch his body. Brett Wallace was the key piece in the deal that sent Roy Oswalt to the Phillies in 2010, but he won't be an impediment to Singleton, the Astros' first baseman and No. 3 hitter of the future. Singleton will start 2012 at Double-A Corpus Christi and could spend the next two seasons in the minors and/or move back to left field if Wallace fulfills his early promise. If Wallace continues to struggle to get to his power, Singleton could take over in Houston in 2013. The best first-base prospect in the minors, he has a chance to hit .300 with 25-30 homers annually.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #2 prospect in 2011
  Singleton impressed on the showcase circuit in 2008, but his summer performance didn't carry over into his senior year, when he pressed and hit .321 with just four home runs. The Phillies still saw him as an advanced high school hitter and signed him for $200,000 as an eighth-rounder. The youngest regular in the low Class A South Atlantic League last year, he rated as the circuit's top prospect and ranked third in on-base percentage (.393) and fourth in slugging (.479) at age 18. Singleton has uncanny balance and rhythm at the plate, as well as solid pitch recognition. His swing is simple and compact, and the strength in his hands, wrists and forearms gives him easy plus raw power. As with most young hitters, his swing can get long at times. He's not as athletic as his father Herb, a former quarterback at Oregon, but Singleton is light on his feet. He has a solid-average arm. With Ryan Howard signed through 2016, Singleton will have to find a different position to crack Philadelphia's lineup. He started working out in left field in July and continued in instructional league, showing enough promise that he'll play there at high Class A Clearwater in 2011. He could be ready for the big leagues in 2013.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #20 prospect in 2010
  It's possible that the best players the Phillies drafted in 2009 were taken with consecutive picks in the seventh and eighth rounds: Brody Colvin and Singleton. The latter is the most advanced hitter Philadelphia has drafted since taking Adrian Cardenas (since traded to the Athletics) in 2006's sandwich round. The team continued a trend with Singleton, making it the fifth straight draft in which they took a first baseman with a single-digit pick. His feel for hitting makes him the best prospect on the bunch. He made a strong impression on 2008 showcase circuit, but didn't stand out as much last spring, batting just .321 as a high school senior. The Phillies trusted their scouting reports and got him for a $200,000 bonus. Singleton had a good pro debut, showing off plus bat speed and a disciplined approach. His swing can get long at times, but he has improved his stroke since signing, reducing the length of his trigger. He's not as athletic as his father Herb, a former quarterback at Oregon, and has below-average speed but isn't a slug. He shows promise as a defender, deftly picking balls out of the dirt and exhibiting some feel for plays around the bag. Singleton will spend his first full season in low Class A, and he may anchor the Lakewood lineup with Sebastian Valle.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #7 prospect in 2014
  Singleton struck out more than one-third of the time as a big league rookie this season, but prior to his June promotion to Houston, the burly slugger shook off the troubles of a lost 2013. He hit a meager .220/.340/.347 at Oklahoma City last season after returning from a 50-game suspension for recreational drug use. Looking bigger than his listed size, Singleton has plus bat speed, plus power and the ability to work pitchers for walks. "He's had his off-the-field problems, but when I saw him he played with a lot of energy," a scout from a rival organization said. "He's a true slugger--all about the home run." Singleton's home runs will come with plenty of strikeouts, but his above-average power and on-base ability will profile at first base. Despite a career .279 average in the minors, he doesn't have a great feel for hitting, though he recognizes pitches well. One evaluator graded Singleton, despite his bulk, as a solid-average defensive first baseman with good hands but a below-average throwing arm.
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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #13 prospect in 2013
  Singleton struggled in his first taste of Triple-A ball, which was delayed by a 50-game suspension at the season?s outset for multiple failed tests for marijuana. He started slowly, homering once in his first month in the PCL, and struck out in an alarming 30 percent of trips to the plate. Part of that owes to his patience, as Singleton doesn?t fear hitting deep in counts. The lack of contact kept his plus-plus raw power from playing consistently. Singleton is an improved defender at first base, but most of his value will be tied to his bat, and 2013 wound up as mostly a lost year for him.
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  Ranked Arizona Fall League #2 prospect in 2012
  Following an impressive summer at Double-A Corpus Christi when he batted .284/.396/.497 with 21 home runs, Singleton continued to impress scouts this fall with not only his elite power potential and feel for the barrel but also his advanced approach. He is a confident hitter with excellent pitch recognition, unafraid to work deep into counts, drawing a league-high 17 walks but also going down with 24 strikeouts. He can get too patient at times, but doesn't panic when he's behind in counts. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Singleton has arguably the greatest offensive potential in the AFL with some believing he could hit for both average and power in the big leagues now.
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  Ranked Texas League #5 prospect in 2012
  A centerpiece of the Astros' rebuilding efforts since arriving in a 2011 deadline deal that sent Hunter Pence to the Phillies, Singleton is a physical specimen whose value comes almost completely from his bat. He has above-average power potential and dialed into it more this year, and with his strike-zone judgment and feel for the barrel he should be able to hit for average as well. He's almost too patient at the plate, piling up high walk and strikeout totals, and still struggles against offspeed stuff and lefthanders. Though he has seen time in the outfield the last two years, Singleton is a below-average runner who will be limited to first base in the majors. Reviews of his defense there varied, with some observers calling him very good and others saying he's tentative and fringy at best. Some managers also said he didn't play with a lot of energy.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #7 prospect in 2011
  The FSL's youngest everyday player, Singleton opened the season in left field because his path with the Phillies was blocked by Ryan Howard. The experiment was shelved in May and his hitting improved markedly after he returned to his natural position of first base. It became a moot point when he accompanied Jarred Cosart to Houston in the Hunter Pence trade. Singleton has a balanced swing, as well as the strength and bat speed to produce above-average power. He has an advanced feel for waiting for pitches he can drive and laying off ones he can't. He did struggle against lefthanders (.189/.339/.232) and at times with recognizing breaking balls, but he shows a good aptitude for making adjustments. "He's got a pretty good eye," Dunedin manager Clayton McCullough said. "He's pretty selective up there. He's got a good feel for what he's doing. There's no reason why this guy won't hit for power down the road." Singleton likes to play a shallow, aggressive style at first base. His well below-average speed and fringy arm made left field a stretch, and his inexperience also was a factor. Regardless of what position he ultimately plays, his bat will be his meal ticket.
• 
  Ranked California League #5 prospect in 2011
  Singleton barely qualified for this list after the Astros acquired him from the Phillies as part of the Hunter Pence deal at the trade deadline. He instantly became the best prospect in the Houston system and didn't need much time to make an impression in the Cal League. He didn't take advantage of Lancaster's hitter-friendly conditions--all four of his home runs came on the road--but he continued to show off an advanced feel for hitting. Though he profiles as a future slugger, Singleton doesn't rip for the fences but instead covers the plate well and drives pitches all over the park. "He has a pretty good idea of what he is trying to do at the plate," an American League scout said. "Eventually he will grow into some power and he should hit for average because he hits to all fields." He draws physical comparisons to a young Ryan Howard, whose presence led the Phillies to experiment with Singleton in left field. The Astros moved him back to first base, where he showed a soft touch and an average arm. Like Howard, Singleton is a below-average runner who clogs the bases.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #1 prospect in 2010
  Managers and scouts loved what they saw in the 18-year-old middle-of-the-lineup hitter. Singleton ranked third in the league in on-base percentage (.393) and fourth in slugging (.479). His other numbers don't jump out, but his potential and total package do. "He's as polished a hitter as you'll see at his age," Haines said. "He has great plate discipline and makes impressive adjustments every time he goes up to the plate. Back in June, he hit two doubles off Matt Montgomery, including a laser to right field. In the seventh, we brought in Jose Ceda and pitched him differently, and Singleton took him out of the park to left. With a guy like that, you just tip your cap." Singleton currently sprays hard line drives to all fields, and he has the size, strength and bat speed to develop significant power over time. He drew comparisons to Ryan Howard and Frank Thomas, with the bonus of better athleticism. Singleton moves well for his size and displays excellent footwork and soft hands at first base.
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #7 prospect in 2009
  In high school, Singleton drew the attention of scouts with his raw power and sweet swing. He dropped to the eighth round in the 2009 draft, where the Phillies nabbed him for $200,000, because the results didn't quite match the tools. That wasn't a problem in the GCL, where he took a balanced approach at the plate and made consistent hard contact. He walked (18) more than he struck out (13 times in 100 at-bats) and showed the ability to hit the ball to all fields with backspin. He's also a very good defender at first base and runs well for a 6-foot-2, 215-pounder. "He has a great idea at the plate," Phillies manager Roly de Armas said. "He's the best young hitter I've had out of high school."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #82 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #27 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #34 prospect in 2012
• Ranked Baseball America's #39 prospect in 2011

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The son of a former Oregon quarterback, Singleton signed with the Phillies for $200,000 in 2009, then was traded to Houston with righthanders Jarred Cosart and Josh Zeid and outfielder Domingo Santana in the 2011 Hunter Pence deal. The No. 1 prospect on this list a year ago, he set career highs with 27 doubles, 21 homers and 88 walks in his first full season as an Astro. Scouting Report: Singleton has a smooth swing with strength, and he knows his strike zone well. He uses his advanced plate discipline to focus on a particular hitting zone, takes aim and unleashes his well above-average raw power. He has a solid knack for hitting, showing enough bat speed to turn on fastballs while also using the whole field. Advanced lefthanders with good breaking balls still can handle him. Singleton has the tools to be an average first baseman but made too many careless errors in 2012. He's a well below-average defender in left field, where his lack of speed and arm strength hinder him. Scouts would like to see him play with more energy. The Future: Singleton remains the best first-base prospect in baseball. Brett Wallace hasn't sewn up the big league starting job, leaving the door open for Singleton as soon as he proves he's ready. His next stop is Triple-A Oklahoma City.
• August, 2012 Scouting Report
  Following an impressive summer at Double-A Corpus Christi when he batted .284/.396/.497 with 21 home runs, Singleton continued to impress scouts this fall with not only his elite power potential and feel for the barrel but also his advanced approach. He is a confident hitter with excellent pitch recognition, unafraid to work deep into counts, drawing a league-high 17 walks but also going down with 24 strikeouts. He can get too patient at times, but doesn't panic when he's behind in counts. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Singleton has arguably the greatest offensive potential in the AFL with some believing he could hit for both average and power in the big leagues now.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The Astros scouted Singleton heavily for the 2009 draft, Bobby Heck's second as scouting director. Singleton had a subpar senior season at Millikan High in Long Beach and fell to the eighth round, where he signed with the Phillies for $200,000. Almost immediately, he outperformed his draft round. He tore up the low Class A South Atlantic League in the first half of 2010, and though he cooled off afterward, he still ranked as the circuit's No. 1 prospect at season's end. With Ryan Howard signed through 2016, Philadelphia moved Singleton to left field in instructional league after the 2010 season, then moved him to Houston last July in the Hunter Pence deal that also brought righthanders Jarred Cosart and Josh Zeid and outfielder Domingo Santana to the Astros organization. One Phillies official said of all the prospects his team has traded the last three years--a group that also includes Carlos Carrasco, Travis d'Arnaud, Kyle Drabek, Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar--Singleton has the highest upside. Scouting Report: Scouts use words like "explosive" and "impact" when describing Singleton's bat. He has pure hitting skills with emerging home run power. He uses the whole field naturally while showing the bat speed to turn on good fastballs. He has the barrel awareness, hitting rhythm and timing teams want in a middle-of-the-order threat. He draws power from both his lower half and his strong hands and wrists. Singleton's well above-average pop presently plays more as average, as he's too patient at times and lets pitches go by that he should drive. He has advanced pitch recognition for his experience level, though, which should allow his power to grow as he gains experience. The biggest concern will be how fares against lefthanders. Scouts say he hangs in well against breaking balls for his age, but he batted .248 with no homers against them in 153 at-bats in 2011. While he's not as athletic as his father Herb, who played quarterback for Oregon in the early 1970s, Singleton is "baseball athletic," as one Astros official put it, with good body control and coordination. He's better defensively at first base than in left field, where his well below-average speed was a hindrance. Houston still could give him some time in left to maintain some versatility but prefers him at first, where he has nimble feet. He has enough arm strength for first base and makes accurate throws. One scout expressed some trepidation that Singleton could get too big and immobile if he doesn't watch his body. The Future: Brett Wallace was the key piece in the deal that sent Roy Oswalt to the Phillies in 2010, but he won't be an impediment to Singleton, the Astros' first baseman and No. 3 hitter of the future. He'll start 2012 at Double-A Corpus Christi and could spend the next two seasons in the minors and/or move back to left field if Wallace fulfills his early promise. If Wallace continues to struggle to get to his power, Singleton could take over in Houston in 2013. The best first-base prospect in the minors, he has a chance to hit .300 with 25-30 homers annually.