White Sox Prospect Brandon Allen: Where Did This Guy Come From?

by John Sickels on Sep 17, 2008 11:00 AM EDT

Brandon Allen was drafted by the White Sox in the fifth round of the 2004 draft, out of high school in Montgomery, Texas. He was a power-hitting slugger with questions about polish and defense. HIs pro debut was unimpressive: .205/.280/.314 for Bristol in the Appy League, with 16 walks and 60 strikeouts in 185 at-bats. He'd get a Grade C based on power potential and draft status, but with the need for a great deal of refinement.

Moved up to Great Falls in the Pioneer League in 2005, Allen hit .263/.366/.472, much better production. HIs BB/K was 32/69 in 231 at-bats, as he improved his plate discipline, cutting down on strikeouts and boosting walks. I gave him a Grade C in the 2006 book, noting comparisons being made to Fred McGriff and Ryan Howard, but also noting it would take time for him to develop.

Allen stumbled in 2006, hitting .213/.257/.382 for Kannapolis in the Sally League, with 22 walks and 126 strikeouts in 395 at-bats. He did hit 15 homers, but the strike zone got away from him most of the time and he struggled. I did not put him in the 2007 book as a result, though perhaps I should have as a Grade C who was still young enough to improve despite his issues with the zone.

2008 was a rebound season: .283/.337/.483 for Kannapolis, with 18 homers, 39 walks, and 124 strikeouts in 516 at-bats. His discipline still needed work, but the strikeout rate was down. I did not put him in the 2008 book but should have done so, as a Grade C/C+ but still young enough at age 21, the equivalent of a college junior, to develop in an interesting way.

He has been very interesting this year, hitting .279/.372/.527 in 89 games for Winston-Salem in the Carolina League, then .275/.358/.614 in 41 games for Birmingham in the Southern League, combining for 32 doubles, 29 homers, 60 walks, and 124 strikeouts in 472 at-bats. He even stole 17 bases in 21 attempts.

Is this a real breakthrough? Allen's ratios didn't slip much at all after being promoted. His strikeout rate went up a little, but the walks remained the same, and he continued to provide plenty of power. He's got issues against left-handed pitching, hitting just .211 against them in Double-A, though he still slugged .544 against them. He murdered right-handers to a .313/.389/.656 mark. His home/road splits were unremarkable. He's just 22, so I think the improvement this year was for real.

His defense needs work (15 errors this year), and I don't think he's ever going to hit for much of an average, which will make it important for him to draw walks to keep his OBP at decent levels. If I were the White Sox, I'd be willling to push him to Triple-A to begin 2009, to see how much of this can be sustained against better pitching. I would rate him a Grade B- prospect right now. Is that too high? Too low? Or just right?

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B

I’d give him a solid B based off his young age and production and discipline.

by ScottAZ on Sep 17, 2008 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

Is he....

the White Sox future at 1B? DH? Bench player? Does he push Thome or Konerko out?

by Looneyt0on on Sep 17, 2008 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

Currently could be slotted for one of those spots

Thome’s contract is up after 2009, and I question whether the Sox would want to resign him for his age 39 season. Paulie’s contract is done after 2010, so the Sox would appear to have both spots opened up in time for Allen to fill in, assuming, of course, he continues to develop and Jermaine Dye isn’t turned into a 1B/DH by then

-Jeeves Life in the Cell

by jeeves on Sep 17, 2008 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

At the least

you’re hoping in 2010 he could be a righty mashing DH. A .260/.350/.500 (overall) line for the minimum would be very valuable. That would probably replicate what Thome’s gonna give you in 2009. Right now this guy has to be either the third or fourth best prospect in the Sox system (Beckham, Poreda 1,2, Allen, Danks 3,4).

I think he’s a solid B. His performance in B’ham in a pitcher’s park was impressive. That being said I’d probably start him in AA and promote to AAA halfway through the year. Barring injury there’s no room on the MLB roster until 2010 anyway, so no need to rush him. Let him consolidate his gains from the previous year in AA then promote.

I think we ought to call Thome and Konerko the "Cholesterol Brothers" because of the way they clog the bases.

by bhoov on Sep 18, 2008 4:11 PM EDT reply actions