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Bluefish catcher J.R. Towles signed by Texas Rangers and assigned to AAA Round Rock

Bluefish catcher is sixth player this season to have contract purchased

By PAUL HERRMANN

(Bridgeport) – Bridgeport Bluefish team officials today announced that catcher J.R. Towles has had his contract purchased by the Texas Rangers organization. He will report to Triple-A Round Rock of the Pacific Coast League.

“It was a pleasure to have J.R. as a member of the Bluefish as he is a very talented ballplayer,” says Bluefish manager Willie Upshaw. “We wish him the best of luck in his pursuit of getting back to the Major League Baseball level.”

Towles played in 67 games for the Bluefish in 2014, hitting 11 home runs with 37 RBI and holding a .292 batting average. He was also named to the Atlantic League All-Star team. The 30-year-old was a member of the Houston Astros from 2007-2011. The catcher has played in 155 Major League games totaling 22 doubles, 11 home runs and 50 RBI. In 2007, after being called up in September he started off his career very strong by compiling a .375 batting average in 14 games with one home run, 12 RBI, five doubles and only one strikeout in 40 at bats.

The backstop has had a very solid minor league career that also included playing for the Rochester Red Wings, the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. He had his best minor league season in 2006 with the Single-A Lexington Legends posting a personal best 12 home runs and 19 doubles in 81 games. Prior to the 2008 campaign he was rated the Astros best prospect in the minor leagues. Over the course of 551 career minor league games, the Texan owns a .285 batting average with 60 home runs, 110 doubles, 275 RBI, 306 runs scored and a .384 on-base percentage.

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