Brewers’ Jon Singleton records hit in first MLB appearance since 2015 after drug abuse suspension

First baseman Jon Singleton recorded a single during his incredible return to the majors with the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.

Singleton started his first MLB game in eight seasons in the Brewers’ 10-8 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

The 31-year-old, sixth in the batting order, was a former Astros top prospect but hasn’t been in the majors since 2015 due to off-court drug issues.

The Brewers recalled Singleton and outfielder Blake Perkins from Triple-A Nashville on Saturday and placed first baseman Darin Ruf and outfielder Tyrone Taylor on the 10-day disabled list. Ruf has a right knee laceration and Taylor has a sprained right elbow.

“It’s been a long journey,” Singleton told reporters ahead of the Brewers’ Saturday game against the Cincinnati Reds. “Right now I can’t even describe my emotions, my feelings. Absolutely grateful.

The 31-year-old Singleton started at first base and recorded a single on his second at bat.

Singleton was such a high-profile prospect early in his professional career that he signed a long-term, $10 million contract with the Houston Astros in 2014 before playing a big league game, but off-the-field issues have hindered its development.

Singleton told reporters he learned of his promotion from Nashville Sounds manager Rick Sweet in the ninth inning of their game on Friday night.

“When Rick told me, I was just blown away, to be honest,” Singleton said. “It was something that happened so unexpectedly at that time. It was definitely a long time coming.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell praised Singleton for the work he has done to return to the majors after such a long absence.

“He’s shown a lot of perseverance in his career,” Counsell said. “His career path has been amazing. It’s been tough, but he played and kept going. He went through tough times, but he found ways to get through it and he was rewarded.

Singleton’s only previous major league experience came when he batted .171 with .290 on-base percentage, 14 home runs and 50 RBIs in 114 combined games with the Astros from 2014-15.

The Astros released Singleton in 2018 while serving a 100-game suspension under Minor League Baseball’s drug program after a third positive test for a drug of abuse.

The 31-year-old recorded a hit in his second at-bat for the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday

The Astros released him in 2018 while serving a 100-game suspension for substance abuse

He told The Associated Press in 2014 that he was battling a marijuana addiction and had been to a rehab facility.

But he’s made a remarkable comeback since.

“Once I had time to step back and reflect on what life was really about and what it meant to me, maybe that helped put things into perspective,” said Singleton told reporters on Saturday.

The Brewers signed Singleton to a minor league contract in 2021, after hitting .321 with 15 homers and 1.196 OPS in 46 games in the Mexican League earlier that year.

He was hitting .258 with a .384 on-base percentage, .483 slugging percentage, 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 49 games with Nashville this season. That followed a 2021 campaign in which he batted .219 with .375 on-base percentage, 24 home runs, 87 RBI and 117 walks in 134 games with Nashville.

He is now back in the big leagues.

“It’s really rewarding,” Singleton told reporters. “I worked hard. There have been many things that I have done emotionally, physically, and spiritually to get to this point. Very, very grateful.