Singleton was optioned to minor league camp Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Singleton struggled mightily this spring, hitting just .151 with 17 strikeouts and only three walks over 56 Grapefruit League plate appearances. He'll open 2016 with Triple-A Fresno, where he hit .254/.359/.505 with 22 home runs and 83 RBI over 102 games last year. Singleton's demotion means Tyler White has likely won the Astros' first base competition.

Singleton is running out of time to earn the Astros' starting first base job, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chroncile reports.

EDGE Analysis

Singleton is just 6-for-40 (.150) this spring with 15 strikeouts and only three walks. Tyler White (.344) and A.J. Reed (.258) have out-performed the 24-year-old, but Singleton may still win the job anyway due to his $10 million guaranteed contract. With a little over two weeks remaining in spring training, this position battle figure to come down to the wire.

Singleton went 2-for-4 with a two-run double and a solo home run Wednesday during the Astros' 7-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

"It's nice to see him have a good day," manager A.J. Hinch said of Singleton, who raised his spring batting average from .104 to .152 with the performance. "He's worked pretty hard, and he hasn't had a day like this yet. Obviously he has it in him. To see him have a day like today is a nice fresh start for him for the rest of camp." The 24-year-old arrived in camp as the favorite to win the Astros' starting first base job, but he'll have to beat out A.J. Reed, Tyler White and Matt Duffy for the role.

Singleton went 1-for-4 with a stolen base as the DH during Monday's 1-1 Grapefruit League tie against Washington.

EDGE Analysis

The 24-year-old did not strike out during the game, but he's fanned 11 times over 27 Grapefruit League at-bats with only one walk to his credit. Singleton's inability to make consistent contact will hurt his chances of winning the Astros' starting first base job, as his main competition -- A.J. Reed (.318), Tyler White (.370) and Matt Duffy (three home runs) -- are off to blistering starts this spring.

Singleton went 2-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBI during Sunday's Grapefruit League win over Toronto.

EDGE Analysis

Prior to Sunday's standout performance, Singleton had gone hitless over six at-bats with four strikeouts. Astros manager A.J. Hinch indicated last week that the 24-year-old has the "first look and the most experience" in the team's first base competition, but A.J. Reed (three hits Sunday) and Tyler White (home run Sunday) are right there with him in one of the most exciting position battles of the spring thus far.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch indicated Singleton has the "first look and the most experience" in the team's first base competition this spring, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Singleton is competing with the highly-regarded A.J. Reed and lesser-known Tyler White for the first base job this spring, but Hinch's comments Wednesday suggest the 24-year-old is the early favorite for the role. A lot can happen during camp, however, and Singelton struggled mightily over 420 big-league plate appearances thus far. It probably wouldn't take much for Reed or White to overtake him in the competition.

Singleton gained 25 pounds in the offseason, 17 of which are muscle, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 24-year-old enters camp weighing 255 pounds as he prepares for a what A.J. Hinch describes as a "grueling" competition at first base with A.J. Reed, Tyler White, Preston Tucker, Matt Duffy and veterans Marwin Gonzalez and Luis Valbuena. "I haven't spent a ton of time with him on the baseball side of things," Hinch said of Singelton, "but showing up in camp, he's obviously put some time in the gym. He's very aware of what his situation is. Knowing the first base job is up for grabs - I'm sure he'll be as focused as needed."

Singleton was recalled from Triple-A Fresno on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Singleton is having a solid year in Triple-A Fresno, hitting .254 with 22 home runs and 83 RBI, but has been unable to carry that success over to the majors. In 16 games with the Astros, he's hitting .205 with one home run and six RBI.

Singleton will bat sixth as the designated hitter Monday against the Royals. Singleton struggled mightily in his first start of the season, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, but was hitting extremely well in the minors, hitting for a .280/.387/.553 slash line with 17 home runs and 66 RBI for Triple-A Fresno. He replaces Evan Gattis in the lineup at designated hitter.

Singleton got the start at DH on Saturday, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. That's not exactly the impression Singleton wanted to make after being called up. He had massive trouble making contact in the majors last season as well, and while both Chris Carter and Evan Gattis are vulnerable to losing playing time, Singleton isn't going to carve out a regular role until he starts hitting.