CORPUS CHRISTI - Former Hooks standout first baseman and Houston Astros prospect Jonathan Singleton has been suspended for the first 50 games of the 2013 season for violating minor league baseball's drug policy. He reportedly tested positive for marijuana.

He has already issued an apology Wednesday through his agents, Adam Karon and Matt Sosnick of Sosnick Cobbe Sports.

"I was informed today that I have tested positive for marijuana,'' Singleton said in the statement. "As a result, I am being suspended for the first 50 games of the 2013 season. I accept the penalty and take full responsibility for my actions. I apologize to my parents, the Houston Astros and [general manager] Jeff Luhnow.

"The Astros have been nothing but supportive of me and good to me in my short time with the organization. My hope is to use this as a learning experience and spend the rest of my career proving to myself and the baseball community that this was a lapse in judgment, and is not in any way indicative of my character or my dedication to baseball or to my team.''

This past season he hit .284 with 21 homers and 79 RBIs for the Hooks guiding them to a franchise best 81-wins and the second South Division Title.

He also went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in Team USA's 17-5 victory in the All-Star Futures Game in Kansas City in July.

Singleton was an eighth-round draft pick in 2009. Then in July of 2011, the Phillies traded him to Houston with pitcher Jarred Cosart and two other minor leaguers in exchange for outfielder Hunter Pence.

Singleton had been projected to begin the 2013 season with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

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