AJ Reed’s season starting at Triple-A: ‘We’re going to win a lot of games’
It’s suddenly crowded at first base for the Fresno Grizzlies.
With last year’s starter Jon Singleton back to start the 2016 season and prized prospect AJ Reed opening the year with the Astros’ Triple-A squad, the Grizzlies have two power hitters who don’t play another position.
Good thing there’s the designated hitter spot, with the parent-club Astros having moved to the American League three years ago.
Singleton and Reed, a former University of Kentucky star, could give the Grizzlies the most potent middle-of-the-order punch throughout the minors, though Manager Tony DeFrancesco said he likely will slot a right-handed hitter between the two lefty swingers when Fresno opens the Pacific Coast League season Thursday at Las Vegas.
“I’m excited to see what’s in store for us,” said the 24-year-old Singleton, a Long Beach native.
Named by teammates and coaches as the Grizzlies’ Offensive Player of the Year in 2015, the linebacker-like Singleton — listed at 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds — hit .254 with 22 homers and 83 RBI and an .865 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 102 Triple-A games last season.
He was leading Triple-A hitters in home runs, runs, RBI and walks when he was called up by Houston in late June. When Singleton returned to the Grizzlies, he remained a key contributor to the franchise’s first PCL title and Triple-A national championship.
“Last year, we won a lot of games,” Singleton said. “Coming back, hopefully we can win a lot of games again.”
Reed, a 22-year-old born in Terre Haute, Ind., is considered the top first base prospect in baseball after crushing Class-A and Double-A pitching a year ago. He led all minor league hitters with a combined 34 homers, 127 RBI, 113 runs, 320 total bases, a .612 slugging percentage and a 1.044 OPS.
Just as gigantic are Reed’s measurables — 6-4 and 275 pounds.
“The Grizzlies had a great year last year,” Reed said. “To be able to come here and play, prepare and get better myself for whatever comes next, I feel like this is the place to do it.
“We’re going to win a lot of games.”
With that kind of power from the left side — along with another five left-handed hitters in the Grizzlies’ probable lineup — right-handed pitchers should dread facing the Grizzlies. Singleton and Reed hit a combined .345 with 43 home runs and 153 RBI against right-handers last season.
Both lasted until this year’s final spring training cuts while vying for a spot on the major-league roster. Singleton, a notorious slow starter, was 8-for-53 but hit three homers and had seven RBI. Reed went 14-for-45 with three homer, nine RBI and a .933 OPS.
The big-league opening they were vying for went to former Grizzly Tyler White, who was 18-for-51 with three homers, 12 RBI, a .443 OBP and 1.031 OPS.
“These guys are capable of hitting 25-30 home runs for sure,” DeFrancesco said. “Reed, I can’t say enough about him. He’s one of our top prospects. He led all of the minor leagues in home runs. He had a great spring.
“Singleton, another guy who understands what he’s doing,” DeFrancesco said. “He understands Triple-A pitching right now. He does have a tough time adjusting to major-league pitching. Hopefully, we can (help him) overcome all those fears and anxieties where he can go back up there and give (the Astros) a chance to win.”
Until one or both are called to Houston, the Grizzlies plan to take advantage of having them in their regular lineup.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how we mold together as a team,” Grizzlies second baseman Tony Kemp said. “The journey ahead is going to be fun.”
This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 2:34 PM with the headline "AJ Reed’s season starting at Triple-A: ‘We’re going to win a lot of games’."