But it was a major league spot.
"I don't mind that," Meadows told The Sentinel early that March. "You have to start somewhere. If I can get into that role, other things will start falling into place."
By that point, Meadows had already seen time in two major league seasons, six games in 1986 and 35 in 1988. He would make the Astros in 1989, getting into another 31 games.
Overall, though, Meadows' major league career never really fell into place, at least as a regular. He got into another 30 major league games in 1990, marking the extent of his big league career.
Meadows' career began in 1982, taken by the Astros in the second round of the draft, out of North Carolina State University.
Meadows started at single-A Asheville, hitting .316 in 66 games. He made AA Columbus in his third season, then AAA Tucson in his fifth.
In July 1986, Meadows first made Houston. He got into six games for the Astros, six at bats. He picked up two hits.
After a season back at Tucson in 1987, Meadows returned to Houston for those 35 games in 1988. He got eight hits in 42 at bats, for a .190 average. He got his first major league start in late June.
"This is a very important time for me," Meadows told The Associated Press after his call back. "It's exciting just to be here again, especially when you know you belong here."
Meadows could never quite show he belonged, at least at the plate. Coming back for 1989, Meadows got another 51 at bats, picking up nine hits for a .176 average. One of his June hits, though, resulted in two runs.
Meadows played 15 games for the Astros in 1990, then 15 more for the Phillies later. Between them, he got three hits in 28 at bats, ending his big league career. His playing career then ended the next year, with one last season at AAA.
In May 1990, though, Meadows got his call back up to Houston, his Tuscon Toros on a road trip to Canada, The Houston Chronicle wrote. Meadows was optimistic.
"I'm ready to play," Meadows told The Chronicle. "I was down there, doing the best I can do and I felt like I was doing a great job. Hopefully, I can get in here and do the same job."
- Wilmington Star-News, Associated Press, July 3, 1988: Meadows gets back to majors
- Orlando Sentinel, March 3, 1989: Making Astros Annual Battle For Meadows
- Houston Chronicle, May 12, 1990: Astros summary
Cards Featured: 861/880 - 97.8%
Players/Coaches Featured: 872
Made the Majors: 596 - 68%-X
Never Made the Majors: 276-32%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 266
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 160
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