J. R. Towles, baseball player, 2007-2011

J. R. Towles

Born: 2/11/1984 in Crosby, TX, USA

MLB Debut: 2007-09-05 | Final Game: 2011-09-27

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 200 lbs

Full name: Justin Richard Towles

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Biography

J. R. Towles was a professional baseball player born in 1984, who played as a position player in Major League Baseball from 2007 to 2011. He made his debut with the Houston Astros on September 5, 2007, and played his final game on September 27, 2011. Over the course of his career, Towles appeared in 155 games, where he recorded 80 hits, 11 home runs, and 50 RBIs, finishing with a batting average of .187. Despite his struggles at the plate, Towles was known for his defensive skills behind the dish, contributing to his team's pitching staff during his time in the majors. Towles played during an era marked by significant changes in the game, including the evolution of catching techniques and the increasing emphasis on offensive production. While his offensive statistics may not reflect the highs of some contemporaries, his dedication to the position and ability to handle pitchers remained valuable assets throughout his career. After leaving the field, Towles's journey in baseball continued, reflecting the often challenging path many players face in transitioning from the diamond to life after professional sports.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
155 428 40 80 22 0 11 50 0 37 95 0.187 0.267 0.315 0.583 -1838.9

Career AVG .187 vs. league average .261 across their career seasons — 28.5% below league average.

Career OBP .267 vs. league average .330 across their career seasons — 18.9% below league average.

Career SLG .315 vs. league average .412 across their career seasons — 23.4% below league average.

Career OPS 0.583 vs. league average 0.741 across their career seasons — 21.4% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
2007 HOU NL 14 40 9 15 5 0 1 12 0 3 1 0.375 — — — — 0.0
2008 HOU NL 54 146 10 20 5 0 4 16 0 16 40 0.137 .263 (-48%) .333 (-25%) .416 (-39%) .749 (-33%) -846.8
2009 HOU NL 16 48 7 9 2 0 2 3 0 3 16 0.188 — — — — -165.2
2010 HOU NL 17 47 3 9 3 0 1 8 0 2 12 0.191 — — — — -203.8
2011 HOU NL 54 147 11 27 7 0 3 11 0 13 26 0.184 .255 (-28%) .320 (-20%) .399 (-27%) .719 (-24%) -623.1

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
C 148 124 836 56 9 5

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
2007 HOU C 14 9 65 6 0 1
2008 HOU C 53 47 312 13 2 1
2009 HOU C 15 14 83 8 0 0
2010 HOU C 15 13 92 7 1 0
2011 HOU C 51 41 284 22 6 3

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Catcher 148

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
2011 HOU NL $424,000
2010 HOU NL $406,500
2008 HOU NL $390,000
Total Career Earnings $1,220,500

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Collin College Dallas TX 2003
North Central Texas College Gainesville TX 2004