Austin Allen leading offensive attack for surging Missions

June 10, 2018
The San Antonio Missions are cruising through the first half of the Texas League and a large part of that success has come off the bat from catcher Austin Allen.
Since signing with the San Diego Padres on June 16, 2015, the left-handed hitter has progressed, advancing through Single-A the past three seasons before starting with Double-A San Antonio to start the 2018 campaign.

However, Allen is just happy to be on the diamond, adjusting to where the Padres want him.

“Whatever they (management) want to do, I’m just trusting the process, taking it day by day,” Allen said. “I don’t worry what’s going on above or below me because it just gets me out of my rhythm and the right process of thinking.”
Going into Sunday night’s game, the Missions were 39-22. A mark that is also good for the top spot in the Texas League. The winning formula so far has been simple, carry the league’s lowest ERA (3.55) and second-best batting average (.280) and you’re sure to find yourself near the top.
“We’re just doing the right things,” pitcher Logan Allen said. “We’re executing when we have runners on base and our pitching staff has been incredible all around.”
The club is still riding high following a combined no-hitter from the left-handed Logan Allen and Jason Jester back on May 31 at Tulsa, the club’s 13th in its 130-year history. But Allen (Austin) and the hitting has provided a spark of its own.
“Austin and I work great, every year he’s been my catcher at some point of the season,” said Logan Allen. “He knows our strengths and weaknesses, keeps us calm and has done a phenomenal job behind the plate sealing strikes.”
The 24-year-old can also hit. He is second on the team in batting average (.333), slugging percentage (.616) and leads the club with 14 home runs. He was also April’s Texas League Player of the Month with eight of his homers coming in that span. Powerful and consistent was just what the Padres wanted to see coming from their one of their top-30 prospects.
“Austin (Allen) has grown a lot through this system,” third baseman Ty France said, who signed with the Padres on the same day as Allen. “When we first got together in short season, he came from a Division II school and struggled, but has really adapted well and it has shown by the way he’s been playing this season.”
Born in St. Louis, the 24-year-old Allen couldn’t help but like the game of baseball growing up watching many star Cardinals find success.
“I’ve been playing for as long as I can remember,” he said. “St. Louis is such a big baseball city and community, watching Mike Matheny, Mark McGwire, Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina play for the Cardinals really gravitated me towards the game even more.”
Allen went through a stretch where he considered basketball around his first year at Chaminade College Preparatory School. He was still trying to figure himself out.
“As an eighth grader and freshman in high school, I thought basketball could be my future,” he said. “Until I watched Bradley Beal, who’s now in the NBA. He just dominated and when I saw how he played, I saw there was no way I could do what he did.”
After seeing Beal, Allen made the decision to pursue baseball over basketball.
It payed off. As a senior at Chaminade High School, Allen hit .492 with 25 RBIs and an .889 slugging percentage. For his output, he was named the Metro Catholic Conference player of the year and signed with the Florida Tech later that season.
“I started finding success at the plate against guys who were drafted at the time I was a freshman in college,” he said. “That’s when I thought I may actually be able to do this for a living.”
Allen has been behind the plate since he started at Chaminade Prep and aside from playing first base, his future is being the pitcher’s strongest ally.
“I absolutely love catching, you’re locked in to every single pitch,” he said. “One of the best things about it is helping out the pitchers. I want to help them (pitchers) have the confidence that with an 0-2 count and a guy on third base that they can throw that breaking ball in the dirt and that I’m going to put my body on it and keep it in front.”
Allen took some time this past spring to develop his game under the guidance of Austin Hedges, who has been the Padres’ catcher for the latter part of the past two seasons. He also worked constantly with veteran catcher A.J. Ellis and catching coordinator Ryan Westman.
At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, Allen is moving in the right direction, but if there was one spot to improve on going into this season, it’s was his ability to throw out runners. Last season, Allen nailed just 21 percent of those stealing, but has caught 31 percent this season. Still, it’s been a constant reminder.
“My biggest focus is defense, that’s one of the knocks on me,” he said. “I’ve been working on the mechanics of improving it every day. My transfers and direction have been a focus but sometimes it’s working on the mental aspect of making that play as well.”
Despite the great start for him and his team this season, the Corpus Christi Hooks were just three games behind in the race for the first-half crown going into Sunday night’s game. So, his main focus is helping his team earn a playoff spot.
“I just want to win, we all just want to win,” he said. “Every team in our division and this league are good but we’re a close-knit group and I think that’s helped us keep it going in the right direction.”
By Jeremy Carranco, San Antonio Express-News

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