J. R. Towles

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name=J. R. Towles
position=Catcher
team=Houston Astros
number=46
bats=Right
throws=Right
debutdate=September 5
debutyear=2007
birthdate=birth date and age|1984|2|11
birthplace=city-state|Crosby|Texas
debutteam=Houston Astros
statyear=September 11, 2008
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.192
stat2label=Home runs| stat2value=5
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=28
teams=
*Houston Astros (by|2007–present)

Justin Richard Towles (born February 11, 1984 in Crosby, Texas) is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Houston Astros.

The Oakland Athletics originally drafted him in the 32nd round (968th overall) and in the 23rd round (692nd overall) in the by|2002 and by|2003 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 by|2004 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 runs. In by|2005 and in by|2006, 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 by|2007. 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, mlby|2007. 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 21, 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 mlby|2008 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. [cite web |title = Ausmus Signed for '08 |url = http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071030&content_id=2288741&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou]

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 is now the primary catcher. [cite web |title = Towles optioned to Round Rock |url = http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080605&content_id=2848061&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou]

References

External links

* [http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=453525 MLB.com Player Profile]
* [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/T/Justin-Towles.shtml The Baseball Cube Player Profile]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=8107 ESPN.com Player Profile]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/towlejr01.shtml Career Stats at Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.jrtowles.net/ His website]