Who’s On First For Astros?

HOUSTON—It’s not often that a contending team has essentially an open competition among three prospects for a crucial run-producing role like first base, but the 2016 Astros are pretty close.

A.J. Reed, the organization’s top prospect, and Tyler White will get their fair share of at-bats to compete for the job that appears to be Jon Singleton’s to lose. They’ll have a chance to be the first Astros first base prospects to jump to the Opening Day starting lineup since a guy named Jeff Bagwell in 1991.

Singleton exhausted his rookie status in 2014 and is set to earn $2 million in 2016 as part of the long-term deal he signed in 2014 before playing a single game in the majors. Nonetheless, he spent most of 2015 at Triple-A Fresno and still carries the questions that surround most top prospects.

Considering that designated hitter Evan Gattis will miss most of spring training recovering from hernia surgery, Reed and White will also have a chance to leave an impression to see if the Astros might want to push Singleton to DH instead of first.

If Singleton stumbles for the second spring training in a row, the Astros have steady utility infielder Marwin Gonzalez ready to assume the first base job until Reed, White or Matt Duffy are ready to take over the job.

“Singleton is certainly going to be given a long look,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said. “A.J. Reed is going to be in camp. Tyler White has had a tremendous career so far. He’s ready for some big league time. Matt Duffy came up last year.”

Whether they break camp with the major league club like Bagwell did in 1991 or wait a few weeks, Reed and White have a serious shot this spring or early in the season.

“We might not even have the final answer on Opening Day,” Luhnow said.

SPACE SHOTS

• Double-A Corpus Christi manager Rodney Linares and high Class A Lancaster manager Ramon Vazquez will be among the coaches with the major league staff for the early part of spring training.

• Luhnow was eager to see shortstop Nolan Fontana and outfielder Andrew Aplin this spring in big league camp. “These are guys who don’t make the top prospect lists, guys like Fontana, who can play short, second base and third base, and guys like Aplin, who is a very good defensive center fielder,” he said.