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The Houston Astros announced on Sunday that the team has sent utility player Tony Kemp, catcher Tyler Heineman, and first baseman Jonathan Singleton to minor league camp. The Astros major league roster is now down to 44 players.
The Astros have optioned IF/OF Tony Kemp and reassigned C Tyler Heineman and 1B Jonathan Singleton to minor league camp.
— Houston Astros (@astros) March 19, 2017
Tony Kemp, 25, has moved all over the diamond in his Astros career. He spent much of Spring Training working out at second base. He batted .286 (10x35) with three RBIs and a stolen base in 17 Spring Training games.
Heineman, 25, batted .091 (1x11) with one RBI in 12 games. He was an 8th round pick out of UCLA in 2012.
Singleton, 25, batted .190 (4x21) with two RBIs in 15 games. He was taken off the 40-man roster this offseason, clearing waivers and outrighted to Triple-A Fresno.
There are no surprises among these cuts, all three players have large roadblocks on the 25-man roster ahead of them. But it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them in 2017 with the Astros if the injury bug cuts deep enough.