TinCaps’ Allen Tabbed With Midwest League Honor
FORT WAYNE – TinCaps catcher Austin Allen was named the Midwest League Player of the Week for the stretch of April 7-17, the league announced Monday. The award is selected by MiLB.com’s staff.
Allen, a 22-year old drafted by the Padres in the fourth round in June out of Florida Tech, leads all of Minor League Baseball in hits (22), batting average (.647), on-base percentage (.675) and on-base plus slugging (1.528). He’s recorded a hit in all 10 games he’s appeared in, including a pair of pinch-hit efforts.
The St. Louis native quickly announced his presence in the Midwest League by posting a 4-for-5 night in Fort Wayne’s season opener against Lake County on April 7. Allen has since added three three-hit outings and a trio of two-hit performances, as well.
Allen clobbered a two-run home run in the TinCaps’ home opener against the Captains on April 9 and has tallied 10 RBIs through 10 games. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound backstop came off the bench Sunday at Parkview Field to crack a pinch-hit, two-run single to right field to lift the TinCaps ahead of South Bend, 4-3, in the seventh inning.
In addition, Allen was named to MLB.com’s Prospect Team of the Week. (Only one player for every position is selected.) MLB.com ranks Allen was the No. 27 prospect
Allen is behind the plate and batting cleanup for the TinCaps on the road tonight against the Lansing Lugnuts.