Brandon Allen

2013

There was no outlook written for Brandon Allen.

2012

Allen was acquired by the A's last July after another strong showing at Triple-A Reno. He quickly emerged as the A's everyday first baseman down the stretch, but struggled to hit after a strong start to his A's career. He was lost at the plate in September (.130/.193/.182 while striking out 34 times in 80 plate appearances), which isn't the lasting image you want to give your employer, particularly when the employer is turning over every rock to find a first baseman with some pop. His winter ball season in the Dominican Republic was just as poor (.143/.222/.286 with 17 strikeouts in 54 at-bats), and there's now considerable doubt if he'll make enough contact against major league pitching to warrant a spot in the lineup. It's a position the A's could address via trade or free agency, though Allen would likely enter spring training as the frontrunner failing additions to the roster.

2011

Things became murky for Allen last offseason when Adam LaRoche was signed as a free agent to be the everyday first baseman. Rather than keep him around as a power bat off the bench, the D-Backs sent Allen to Triple-A Reno where he suffered an early-season shoulder injury that sidelined him for a month. After returning to the lineup in June, Allen hit .280 with 22 homers in 286 at-bats for the Aces while maintaining an excellent 67:73 BB:K before his September callup to Arizona. In addition to hitting for power and showing a good eye at the plate, Allen worked on learning to play left field, which certainly bodes well for his chances of receiving regular at-bats with the acquisitions of Juan Miranda and Xavier Nady potentially blocking his path at first base. Offensively, he's got nothing left to prove in the minors, and his power potential should make him a popular upside target on draft day.

2010

Allen's stock went through the roof after the D-Backs acquired him from the White Sox in a trade for reliever Tony Pena in July. Upon arrival, Allen reported to Triple-A Reno and went on to swing one of the hottest bats in the Pacific Coast League during the second half of the season with a .324/.413/.641 line including 12 homers and 32 RBI in just 145 at-bats before the D-Backs made him a late-season callup. After his promotion, Allen appeared to be overmatched by big league pitching with a strikeout every 2.6 at-bats over a small sample size down the stretch. In an Arizona organization that desperately lacks major-league ready talent capable of hitting for power, Allen could quickly play his way into the role of long-term first baseman. Eventually, he could be a viable 30-35 homer candidate, but he'll have to earn his at-bats during spring training and a platoon situation could ultimately unfold.