Astros Shake Up Pitching Staff: Moves Made Amid Decision on Former Top Prospect
The Houston Astros have opted to leave former top-30 prospect Jon Singleton off their Opening Day roster.
Despite shedding 20 pounds over the winter, Singleton struggled to make an impact in spring training. He managed just a .171/.239/.195 slash line across 46 plate appearances in the Grapefruit League, which ultimately hurt his chances of securing a roster spot.
The Astros have shifted their focus to bolstering their bullpen, planning to carry four relief pitchers into their home opener against the New York Mets on March 27.
Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed the team’s plan to reinforce the bullpen, adding four relievers to the roster. Left-handers Bryan King and Steven Okert, along with right-handers Luis Contreras and Rafael Montero, will provide much-needed depth as Houston prepares for Opening Day.
Espada emphasized his decision to give Montero another opportunity, noting that the right-hander opted to stay with Houston this season despite facing a potential release.
“He was very grateful,” Espada said. “He said, ‘Last year I had the opportunity to get my release or my ticket out of here and I chose not to, because I knew that you guys gave me a chance once and I know you guys are going to give me a chance again.’ It was great to hear that.”
By bolstering the bullpen, Espada prioritized pitching depth over power at the plate, making the tough call to cut a key bat from the lineup.
“We are assessing our next step with Singy, but he will not be making our club,” he added. “Just the way our roster is being shaped right now and the direction, we want to go and give some other players a look. It wasn’t easy … but sometimes we’ve got to make those tough decisions.”
With their bullpen set, the Astros are gearing up to take on the Mets in their 2025 season opener, ready to put their revamped roster to the test.
