Former Phillies player Jon Singleton, who was involved in the Hunter Pence trade in 2011, made his return to the majors after eight years and recorded his first hit since 2015 with the Milwaukee Brewers. Singleton was a top prospect but faced suspensions over marijuana, which hindered his career. His journey through professional baseball, including a stint in the Mexican League, is mapped out in an article by Aram Leighton of Just Baseball. In other former-Phillies news, Jorge Alfaro was granted his release by the Red Sox and Roman Quinn agreed to a minor league contract with the Brewers.
Based on Phillies Nation, Jon Singleton, one of the players traded for Hunter Pence in 2011, made his return to the major leagues over the weekend. Singleton, who dealt with numerous marijuana suspensions, recorded his first hit in the majors since 2015 while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Singleton’s journey to the majors has been a long and winding one, including a stop in the Mexican League. He was traded to Houston as a 19-year-old prospect after four productive seasons in the Phillies’ farm system. Though it didn’t quite work out for him in Houston, seeing Singleton back in the majors after nearly a decade away is a feel-good story that every fan should appreciate.
In other former-Phillies news, Jorge Alfaro was granted his release by the Red Sox after hitting a productive .320 with an .887 OPS in Triple-A Worcester. However, Alfaro struggled defensively, and the Red Sox preferred the play of catcher Connor Wong. Roman Quinn also agreed to a minor league deal with the Brewers.
It’s amazing to see how much can happen in the span of just a few years. The Hunter Pence trade feels like forever ago, both in terms of time and in terms of the ups and downs the Phillies franchise has experienced since then. While Pence retired in 2020, Jon Singleton is making his return to the majors in 2023 after a long and winding journey that included suspensions and a stop in the Mexican League.
Singleton’s story is one of perseverance and determination, and it’s a reminder that success in baseball (and in life) isn’t always a straight line. It’s also a testament to the power of second chances and the importance of not giving up on your dreams.
As fans, it’s easy to get caught up in the wins and losses, the trades and signings, and the daily drama of the baseball season. But stories like Singleton’s remind us of the human side of the game, the players who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make it to the majors, and the joy that comes from seeing them succeed.
So here’s to Jon Singleton, to second chances, and to the power of perseverance. May his return to the majors be just the beginning of a long and successful career.
