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Friday
November 20, 2009 Since 1922 |
Crosby’s Towles back in Astros lineup
By Nathan Hague
The Baytown Sun Published September 29, 2009 HOUSTON — Former Crosby Cougar J.R. Towles is back in a Houston Astros uniform, at least for now. The catcher was called up from Triple-A Round Rock Express earlier this month.
“It wasn’t really a surprise because I was really hoping for it, that’s for sure,” Towles said after a game at Minute Maid Park last week.
Towles first made an appearance for the Astros back in 2007, completing a one-season climb from Class A to the major leagues.
He batted .375 and had 12 RBIs during a 14-game September call-up and followed it up with a spring training performance in 2008 that was strong enough to win the starting job.
But he failed to hold onto the job, batting .137 with four home runs and 16 RBIs in 54 games.
Up and down from Triple-A several times this year, as last, Towles played only three games for the Astros this season prior to September.
While playing for Round Rock this summer, he had a batting average of .276 with four home runs and 22 RBIs in 56 games.
Towles’ batting average for 12 games and 32 at-bats this year is .094. His career average now stands at .174.
The team is waiting to see some sparks in his hitting to decide on his future as an Astro.
Keeping the spot on the Astros’ roster in 2010 won’t be easy for Towles.
Club insiders say the Astros are letting him catch three out of every five games in the remainder of the season so he can compete for the lineup spot against the team’s 2008 first round draft pick, Jason Castro and six-year veteran Humberto Quintero.
As of right now, Castro is seen as the starter but by the time spring training rolls around, that may or may not change. Towles though, will need a strong off-season and a strong spring training.
“I’m not sure what’s going to happen,” he said. “I’m hoping to get as much playing time as possible and play the best I can. I just need to finish strong here and show everybody what I’m capable of doing.”
Towles missed more than a month this summer on Round Rock’s disabled list with a hamstring injury. He also broke his nose while working on a tractor around the family homestead.
“It’s been a long season,” he said, “especially since I was playing somewhere else. I went on the DL with my hamstring and came back 10 days later and re-injured it again. I would say I’m about 95-100 percent now.”
Once the season comes to a close, Towles said he plans to take a little time off before hitting the weights and training.
“I’ll start working out to get bigger and stronger and to be ready for the next time it comes around.”
As the season winds down, Towles’ future is uncertain but he still plans on taking advantage of every opportunity that comes his way.
The Baytown Sun Published September 29, 2009 HOUSTON — Former Crosby Cougar J.R. Towles is back in a Houston Astros uniform, at least for now. The catcher was called up from Triple-A Round Rock Express earlier this month.
“It wasn’t really a surprise because I was really hoping for it, that’s for sure,” Towles said after a game at Minute Maid Park last week.
Towles first made an appearance for the Astros back in 2007, completing a one-season climb from Class A to the major leagues.
He batted .375 and had 12 RBIs during a 14-game September call-up and followed it up with a spring training performance in 2008 that was strong enough to win the starting job.
But he failed to hold onto the job, batting .137 with four home runs and 16 RBIs in 54 games.
Up and down from Triple-A several times this year, as last, Towles played only three games for the Astros this season prior to September.
While playing for Round Rock this summer, he had a batting average of .276 with four home runs and 22 RBIs in 56 games.
Towles’ batting average for 12 games and 32 at-bats this year is .094. His career average now stands at .174.
The team is waiting to see some sparks in his hitting to decide on his future as an Astro.
Keeping the spot on the Astros’ roster in 2010 won’t be easy for Towles.
Club insiders say the Astros are letting him catch three out of every five games in the remainder of the season so he can compete for the lineup spot against the team’s 2008 first round draft pick, Jason Castro and six-year veteran Humberto Quintero.
As of right now, Castro is seen as the starter but by the time spring training rolls around, that may or may not change. Towles though, will need a strong off-season and a strong spring training.
“I’m not sure what’s going to happen,” he said. “I’m hoping to get as much playing time as possible and play the best I can. I just need to finish strong here and show everybody what I’m capable of doing.”
Towles missed more than a month this summer on Round Rock’s disabled list with a hamstring injury. He also broke his nose while working on a tractor around the family homestead.
“It’s been a long season,” he said, “especially since I was playing somewhere else. I went on the DL with my hamstring and came back 10 days later and re-injured it again. I would say I’m about 95-100 percent now.”
Once the season comes to a close, Towles said he plans to take a little time off before hitting the weights and training.
“I’ll start working out to get bigger and stronger and to be ready for the next time it comes around.”
As the season winds down, Towles’ future is uncertain but he still plans on taking advantage of every opportunity that comes his way.