Porter: Struggling Singleton has quality at-bats

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- First-base prospect Jon Singleton, who was in the starting lineup Sunday against the Jays, has been off to a rough start at the plate this spring. He was 0-for-15 with three strikeouts after Sunday, though he had drawn six walks.

Singleton is in a wide-open battle for the starting first-base job with Brett Wallace, Jesus Guzman, Japhet Amador and Marc Krauss, who's had a terrific spring so far.

"I think he's taking quality at-bats," manager Bo Porter said. "The one thing in which Jon and I talked about and [hitting coach John Mallee] is going to get with him today -- he doesn't have to over-swing. You're talking about a guy with tremendous power and he has power to all fields. When you [try] to hit the 500-foot home run instead of hitting the ball hard, sometimes you can miss pitches that you probably could hit.

"Overall, I think his at-bats have been good. I think he's over-swinging right now, trying to make something happen."

Porter said it's not uncommon for young players, especially those with the kind of power potential that Singleton possesses, to try to do too much in their first Major League camp.

"You get here and want to impress and show what it is you can do, and as you become a more veteran-type player, you let the game come to you a little bit and allow your ability to play," Porter said. "With conversations with myself and some of the coaches, I think that will improve as spring continues to go along."