Jonathan Lee Singleton is an American professional baseball first baseman who currently plays for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers. Singleton grew up in Long Beach, California, and was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009. He was traded to the Astros as part of the package for Hunter Pence in 2011. Before making his MLB debut in 2014, he signed a $10 million contract with Houston. Singleton has overcome significant personal challenges, including multiple suspensions for violating the MLB substance abuse policy, to continue his professional baseball career. Through 2025, he has appeared in 104 major league games, compiling a .197 batting average with 29 home runs and 104 RBIs.
Jonathan Lee Singleton Bio
Early Life and Background
Jonathan Lee Singleton was born on September 18, 1991, in Long Beach, California. He grew up in the city and attended Millikan High School, where he played baseball. Singleton committed to play at California State University, Long Beach just months before the 2009 Major League Baseball draft, demonstrating his talent and potential as a college-bound athlete. His early exposure to baseball in the Long Beach area laid the foundation for his future professional career.
Path to Professional Baseball
Singleton entered the 2009 MLB Draft projected as a potential second-round selection based on his skills. However, his performance during his senior year of high school caused his draft stock to fall. The Philadelphia Phillies selected him in the eighth round with the 257th overall pick. He reported to the Gulf Coast League Phillies after signing and played 31 minor league games that season. In 2010, Singleton played for the Single-A Lakewood BlueClaws, where he posted impressive numbers with a .290 batting average, 14 home runs, and 77 RBIs. Prior to the 2011 season, Baseball America ranked him as the Phillies’ second-best prospect, highlighting his status as one of the organization’s top young talents.
Jonathan Lee Singleton Career
Houston Astros (First Stint, 2011-2018)
On July 29, 2011, the Phillies traded Singleton along with Jarred Cosart, Josh Zeid, and Domingo Santana to the Houston Astros in exchange for outfielder Hunter Pence. Following the trade, Singleton became the Astros’ top-ranked prospect according to Baseball America. He was selected to appear in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game, showcasing his abilities among the minor leagues’ best players. However, Singleton faced setbacks when he tested positive for marijuana in June 2012 and again in December of that year. On January 9, 2013, MLB suspended him for 50 games due to his second failed drug test. He spent time in a rehabilitation center after the second positive test.
Singleton was added to the Astros 40-man roster following the 2013 season. In June 2014, he signed a five-year contract worth $10 million that could have reached $35 million with additional incentives, making him the first drafted player with no major league experience to sign such a deal. He made his MLB debut on June 3, 2014, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs against the Los Angeles Angels. Five days later, he hit his first career grand slam off Glen Perkins of the Minnesota Twins. On August 2, 2014, Singleton hit an inside-the-park home run against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Astros optioned him to Triple-A Fresno to begin the 2015 season, where he set a Fresno club record with 10 RBIs in a single game on May 13, 2015.
Minor Leagues and Mexican League (2016-2021)
The Astros placed Singleton on outright waivers in November 2016, and he cleared waivers and was assigned to Fresno. In January 2018, MLB announced that Singleton had failed a third test for a drug of abuse, resulting in a 100-game suspension. He acknowledged his substance abuse issues publicly, stating that he recognized he had a problem and needed to work against it. The Astros released him in May 2018 while he was still serving his suspension. Singleton then moved to the Mexican League. On April 2, 2020, he signed with Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. The Mexican League canceled its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so Singleton did not play that year. He was traded to Guerreros de Oaxaca in November 2020 and then traded back to Diablos Rojos del México in May 2021 without appearing in a game for Oaxaca. In 46 games for Diablos Rojos in 2021, he batted .321 with a .503 on-base percentage and .693 slugging percentage, adding 15 home runs, 36 RBIs, and four stolen bases.
Milwaukee Brewers (2022-2023)
On December 9, 2021, Singleton signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He spent the entire 2022 season with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, batting .219 with a .375 on-base percentage and .434 slugging percentage in 456 at-bats. He hit 24 home runs and drove in 87 runs while leading all of minor league baseball with 117 walks that season. On November 15, 2022, the Brewers selected Singleton to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He was designated for assignment in January 2023 after the team signed Brian Anderson. After clearing waivers, he re-signed with the Brewers on a minor league contract in February 2023. In 49 games for Nashville that season, he hit .258 with a .384 on-base percentage and .483 slugging percentage, 10 home runs, and 29 RBIs. The Brewers promoted Singleton to the major leagues on June 3, 2023, following an injury to Darin Ruf. In 11 games for Milwaukee, he went 3-for-29 with 2 RBIs before being designated for assignment on June 17. He elected free agency on June 21.
Houston Astros (Second and Third Stint, 2023-2025)
On June 24, 2023, Singleton rejoined the Houston Astros organization on a minor league contract and was assigned to the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. He was called up to the majors on August 8 after hitting .333 with a .446 on-base percentage and .692 slugging percentage over 33 games at Sugar Land, including 12 home runs, 28 RBIs, and 26 walks. He made his season debut that same day against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, drawing a walk and scoring the go-ahead run on a grand slam by Kyle Tucker that led to a 7-6 Astros win. On August 11, Singleton homered twice for his first career multi-home run game while driving in a career-high five runs in an 11-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. In 2024, he batted .239 with a .321 on-base percentage and .386 slugging percentage, hitting 13 doubles, 13 home runs, and 42 RBIs while playing 119 games with 405 plate appearances, both career highs. He also hit his first major league triple on September 10, 2024, against the Oakland Athletics. On March 25, 2025, the Astros released Singleton after he failed to make the team’s Opening Day roster.
New York Mets and Return to Houston
On April 2, 2025, Singleton signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets. In 55 appearances for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, he batted .213 with a .353 on-base percentage and .448 slugging percentage, hitting 12 home runs and driving in 42 runs before being released by the organization. On June 22, 2025, Singleton signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros organization, returning to the club for a third time. In 18 appearances for the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, he batted .254 with a .427 on-base percentage and .460 slugging percentage, hitting four home runs, driving in 12 runs, and recording one stolen base. On July 20, he was added to Houston’s active roster following an injury to Isaac Paredes. After going 1-for-9 over three games, he was designated for assignment on July 28. He cleared waivers and elected free agency on July 31 before re-signing with Houston on a minor league contract on August 5. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Singleton is known as a patient hitter with excellent plate discipline. His ability to draw walks has been a consistent strength throughout his career, including leading all minor leagues with 117 walks during the 2022 season at Nashville. He has shown power potential with a career-high 13 home runs in the 2024 season. His left-handed bat provides versatility, and his experience at first base gives him defensive flexibility. His career has been marked by periods of impressive offensive production, particularly in the minor leagues, though his major league numbers have been more limited due to shorter MLB stints and personal challenges.
Notable Events and Milestones
Several moments stand out in Singleton’s career. His $10 million contract signed before his MLB debut in June 2014 was unprecedented for a player without major league experience. He hit a home run in his MLB debut on June 3, 2014, a rare achievement that set the tone for his brief but memorable first stint with Houston. His first career grand slam came just five days later against the Minnesota Twins. In May 2015, he set a Fresno club record with 10 RBIs in a single game. His return to the majors with Houston in August 2023 featured immediate impact, including scoring the go-ahead run in his first appearance and hitting his first career multi-home run game weeks later. His 2024 season represented his most sustained MLB success, with career highs in games played, home runs, and RBIs.
Jonathan Lee Singleton Career Wins
Singleton has accumulated his professional achievements primarily in the minor leagues, with limited but notable MLB production. His major league career spans 104 games through the 2025 season, with a .197 batting average, 29 home runs, and 104 RBIs. His most productive MLB season came in 2024 with Houston, where he hit 13 home runs and drove in 42 runs while playing 119 games. In the minor leagues, he has shown the potential for strong offensive numbers, including his 2021 season with Diablos Rojos del México where he posted a .321 average with 15 home runs in 46 games. His 2010 season with Lakewood BlueClaws produced a .290 average with 77 RBIs at the Single-A level.
Houston Astros Highlights
Singleton’s time with the Astros has been his most extensive MLB experience. He made his debut with Houston on June 3, 2014, and went on to play 86 games over parts of two seasons with the team before being sent to the minor leagues. He returned to Houston in August 2023 and contributed immediately, including a memorable debut at Camden Yards where he drew a walk and scored. His multi-home run game against the Los Angeles Angels in August 2023 showcased his power ability. The 2024 season represented his best MLB performance, with 13 home runs and 42 RBIs while appearing in 119 games, both career highs. He hit his first major league triple in September 2024, adding to his list of career milestones with the organization.
Other Highlights
Beyond his MLB career, Singleton has found success in various leagues. His performance with Diablos Rojos del México in 2021 was exceptional, as he batted .321 with a .503 on-base percentage and .693 slugging percentage in 46 games, demonstrating his ability to produce at a high level. His 2022 season with Triple-A Nashville, where he led all minor leaguers with 117 walks while hitting 24 home runs and 87 RBIs, showed his patient approach and power potential. His 2010 season with Lakewood BlueClaws at Single-A produced a .290 average with 77 RBIs, establishing him as a top prospect early in his career.
| League | Games | Average | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (Career) | 104 | .197 | 29 | 104 |
| Mexican League (2021) | 46 | .321 | 15 | 36 |
Jonathan Lee Singleton Family
Family Background
Singleton grew up in Long Beach, California, where he attended Millikan High School. He has maintained connections to his hometown area throughout his career. Details about his family background, parents, or siblings are not extensively available in public sources.
Personal Life
Singleton has been open about his struggles with substance abuse, particularly involving marijuana. He has spoken publicly about recognizing his addiction and the challenges he has faced in addressing it. His history includes three positive tests for drugs of abuse, resulting in suspensions totaling 150 games across his career. He has expressed commitment to working against his addiction and continuing his professional baseball career. Beyond his baseball career and personal challenges, detailed information about Singleton’s personal life, including marital status or children, is not publicly available.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a year of movement for Singleton across multiple organizations. After being released by the Astros in March, he signed with the New York Mets in April and played 55 games with their Triple-A Syracuse affiliate. His performance with Syracuse included a .213 average, 12 home runs, and 42 RBIs before he was released. He returned to the Astros organization in June 2025, joining the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. His numbers at the Triple-A level showed promise, with a .254 average, four home runs, and 12 RBIs in 18 games. Singleton received a call-up to Houston’s major league roster in late July following an injury to Isaac Paredes. However, his brief stint produced limited results, as he went 1-for-9 across three games before being designated for assignment. He cleared waivers, elected free agency briefly, and re-signed with Houston on a minor league contract in early August. He finished the season with Houston’s minor league system and elected free agency in November, signing with Diablos Rojos del México in January 2026 for the upcoming season.