J. R. Towles
Encyclopedia
Justin Roberts Towles is a Major League Baseball
catcher
.
The Oakland Athletics
originally drafted him in the 32nd round (968th overall) and in the 23rd round (692nd overall) in the and Major League Baseball drafts, respectively. He did not sign with them either times. He signed with the Houston Astros when they drafted him in the 20th round (604th overall) in the draft.
In 2004 after being signed, Towles played at the rookie level for the Greeneville Astros
. He played in just 39 games and batted
.243 with no home run
s. In and in , he played for the Single-A Lexington Legends
. He batted .345 with 5 home runs in 45 games in 2005 and in 2006, batted .312 with 12 home runs in 81 games. He was a South Atlantic League
Mid-Season All-Star in 2006 and was a Baseball America
Low A All-Star.
Towles worked his way up the minor leagues in . He began the year with the Single-A Salem Avalanche
, then the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks
, and by the end of the minor league season, was with the Triple-A Round Rock Express
. He played a total of 100 games in the minor leagues and batted .287 with 11 home runs. He also was a selection for the All-Star Futures Game
at AT&T Park
in San Francisco.
Towles had his contract purchased by the major league club on September 4, . He made his major league debut on September 5, 2007, against the Milwaukee Brewers
. He faced relief pitcher
Matt Wise
as a pinch hitter
and flied out to left fielder
Mel Stocker
. On September 20, 2007, Towles got 8 RBI
in a game beating the club record of 7 RBI. In the same game, the Astros got a combined 23 hits
in their 18-1 win against the St. Louis Cardinals
. Towles also hit is first career home run that day. The pitcher who gave up that home run was actually infielder
Aaron Miles
.
Towles was expected to be the starting catcher starting in with the club signing Brad Ausmus
to a one-year contract to serve as a back-up catcher and mentor to the young Towles on October 30, 2007.
On June 5, 2008, Towles was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock
for having some hitting troubles. Towles hit .145 over 42 games for the Astros. He had 17 hits in 117 at-bats, knocking four homers and driving in 14. Towles was not surprised about this move though and took it very well. Towles thought of it as a time to get some confidence back. Cooper said it wasn't his catching or game calling, it was his offense. Ausmus became the primary catcher.
He was competing with Humberto Quintero
and Lou Palmisano for the starting or back-up job in 2009, but is now expected to begin the season in Round Rock to play everyday and develop since it was reported that the team had agreed to a contract with Ivan Rodriguez
on March 16.
After Humberto Quintero was designated to the 15 Day Disabled List, Towles was called up to the Astros to serve as back-up catcher for Ivan Rodriguez
. He has performed in one game, coming in after manager Cecil Cooper
and Rodriguez were ejected from the game, getting one hit in three at bats. The one hit, however was a game tying two run double.
Towles hit .191 (9-for-47) with one homer and eight RBIs in 17 games with the Astros. He was the Opening Day starter and wound up starting 13 of the team's first 26 games, splitting time with career backup Humberto Quintero. On May 5, 2010, He was optioned to Double-A Corpus Christi because the Astros have No. 1 prospect Jason Castro catching at Round Rock, so the club sent Towles to Double-A to give him a chance to play every day.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
.
The Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
originally drafted him in the 32nd round (968th overall) and in the 23rd round (692nd overall) in the and Major League Baseball drafts, respectively. He did not sign with them either times. He signed with the Houston Astros when they drafted him in the 20th round (604th overall) in the draft.
In 2004 after being signed, Towles played at the rookie level for the Greeneville Astros
Greeneville Astros
The Greeneville Astros are a minor league baseball team of the Appalachian League, and a Rookie-level affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Greeneville, Tennessee, and play their home games at Pioneer Park on the campus of Tusculum College....
. He played in just 39 games and batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.243 with no home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s. In and in , he played for the Single-A Lexington Legends
Lexington Legends
The Lexington Legends are a minor league baseball team of the South Atlantic League , and the Class A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Lexington, Kentucky, and play their home games at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, located in an industrial area on the northeast side of the city just...
. He batted .345 with 5 home runs in 45 games in 2005 and in 2006, batted .312 with 12 home runs in 81 games. He was a South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
Mid-Season All-Star in 2006 and was a Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
Low A All-Star.
Towles worked his way up the minor leagues in . He began the year with the Single-A Salem Avalanche
Salem Avalanche
The Salem Red Sox are a minor league baseball team in Salem, Virginia, USA, an independent city adjacent to Roanoke, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League and are a farm team of the Boston Red Sox...
, then the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks
Corpus Christi Hooks
The Corpus Christi Hooks are a minor league baseball team of the Texas League, and are the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team's ownership group is headed by Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan...
, and by the end of the minor league season, was with the Triple-A Round Rock Express
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
. He played a total of 100 games in the minor leagues and batted .287 with 11 home runs. He also was a selection for the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
at AT&T Park
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
in San Francisco.
Towles had his contract purchased by the major league club on September 4, . He made his major league debut on September 5, 2007, against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He faced relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
Matt Wise
Matt Wise
Matthew John Wise , is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher.Wise was drafted in the sixth round of the draft. He made his major league debut on August 2, with the Anaheim Angels. He was released by the Angels in and signed with the Milwaukee Brewers...
as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
and flied out to left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Mel Stocker
Mel Stocker
Myreon Romel "Mel" Stocker is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent.Stocker attended Arizona State University and was then drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 16th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft.Stocker spent 5 seasons in the Royals minor league...
. On September 20, 2007, Towles got 8 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in a game beating the club record of 7 RBI. In the same game, the Astros got a combined 23 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in their 18-1 win against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Towles also hit is first career home run that day. The pitcher who gave up that home run was actually infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
Aaron Miles
Aaron Miles
Aaron Wade Miles is a Major League Baseball infielder who is currently a free agent.-Houston Astros:Miles was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the 19th round of the 1995 amateur draft...
.
Towles was expected to be the starting catcher starting in with the club signing Brad Ausmus
Brad Ausmus
Bradley David "Brad" Ausmus is a former All Star catcher in Major League Baseball, and currently a special assistant for the San Diego Padres....
to a one-year contract to serve as a back-up catcher and mentor to the young Towles on October 30, 2007.
On June 5, 2008, Towles was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
for having some hitting troubles. Towles hit .145 over 42 games for the Astros. He had 17 hits in 117 at-bats, knocking four homers and driving in 14. Towles was not surprised about this move though and took it very well. Towles thought of it as a time to get some confidence back. Cooper said it wasn't his catching or game calling, it was his offense. Ausmus became the primary catcher.
He was competing with Humberto Quintero
Humberto Quintero
Humberto Quintero [oom-BERR-to kin-TAIR-o] is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Houston Astros. Quintero was outrighted to the Round Rock Express in June 2007 after Eric Munson was promoted to the Houston Astros. Previously, Quintero played with the San Diego Padres...
and Lou Palmisano for the starting or back-up job in 2009, but is now expected to begin the season in Round Rock to play everyday and develop since it was reported that the team had agreed to a contract with Ivan Rodriguez
Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez Torres , nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher...
on March 16.
After Humberto Quintero was designated to the 15 Day Disabled List, Towles was called up to the Astros to serve as back-up catcher for Ivan Rodriguez
Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez Torres , nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher...
. He has performed in one game, coming in after manager Cecil Cooper
Cecil Cooper
Cecil Celester Cooper , nicknamed "Coop," is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former manager of the Houston Astros. From through , Cooper played for the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers...
and Rodriguez were ejected from the game, getting one hit in three at bats. The one hit, however was a game tying two run double.
Towles hit .191 (9-for-47) with one homer and eight RBIs in 17 games with the Astros. He was the Opening Day starter and wound up starting 13 of the team's first 26 games, splitting time with career backup Humberto Quintero. On May 5, 2010, He was optioned to Double-A Corpus Christi because the Astros have No. 1 prospect Jason Castro catching at Round Rock, so the club sent Towles to Double-A to give him a chance to play every day.