Luke Allen

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #25 prospect in 2003
  The Dodgers shifted Allen from third base to right field in 2001 after he had committed a total of 80 errors during the previous two years. Allen was signed for his offensive potential, but his development was temporarily stunted when he spent parts of four seasons in Double-A. He bulked up too much and lost a lot of his flexibility. He loosened up his frame by toning his body in 2002. It paid off as he showed better bat control and plate discipline, though he still didn't produce the power expected from a right fielder. Allen boosted his value with an impressive winter performance in the Dominican (.316-7-35 in 152 at-bats), and the Rockies traded for him in January. Still, some scouts aren't sure of his role in the big leagues. Some think he'll show more power as he learns which pitches to drive, and he's a proven hitter for average. Others think he's too pull-conscious, though he does hang in well against southpaws. Allen's raw arm strength grades out as a 70 on the standard 20-80 scouting scale. With no apparent openings in Colorado for him right now, he'll head back to Triple-A for 2003.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #14 prospect in 2002
  Allen finally showed signs of mastering Double-A in 2001 after spending the previous two full seasons stuck there. A former third baseman who moved to right field last year, he took his offensive game to a higher level while showing signs of being more comfortable on defense. Allen's best tool is his arm, which managers rated as the strongest among outfielders last year in the Southern League after he earned similar praise among Texas League infielders in 2000. What excited the Dodgers most about Allen was the way he hit the ball as hard as he ever has as a professional, resulting in a career-high 16 homers. He made better adjustments against all type of pitches, yet he also struck out 111 times, the highest total of his career. While he has good speed and quick wrists, Allen needs to improve his strikezone judgment and continue to prove he can handle the demands of right field. An energetic player who obviously loves to take the field, he drew praise for his veteran leadership at Jacksonville. He'll finally make it to Triple-A on a full-time basis in 2002.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #13 prospect in 2001
  Though injuries, including a fractured left eye socket suffered on a bad-hop grounder, hampered Allen during 2000, he wound up having a productive season in his second year at Double-A. He finished second on San Antonio in RBIs despite having his season conclude at the end of July, and he cut his errors in half after making a minor league-high 53 in 1999. Managers ranked Allen's arm as the best among Texas League infielders last year. The problem is, he still hasn't found a home in the field. His hands aren't soft and he hasn't shown the necessary consistency to handle the hot corner at higher levels. Those limitations could land Allen in right field soon. With his quick wrists, improving power and good speed for a player of his size, he's a budding offensive player who could develop into a middle-of-the-lineup run producer. After proving he has recovered from eye surgery with a solid showing in the Arizona Fall League, Allen was placed on the Dodgers' 40-man roster. His next stop is scheduled to be Triple-A Las Vegas.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #5 prospect in 1999
  Background: Allen went undrafted out of high school because he was playing out of position at shortstop. Scout Lon Joyce followed him during the summer, though, and recommended the Dodgers sign Allen after he gained significant strength and bat speed. Strengths: Allen has a strong, mature body and a smooth lefthanded swing. He has the potential to have above-average power and he's showed impressive hitting maturity. A slightly above-average runner once he's under way, he has good range in the outfield. Weaknesses: The Dodgers switched Allen to third base in 1997 and to the outfield in 1998, when he split time between left and center. Allen's hands and first-step quickness were short for the infield, but neither is a factor in the outfield. The Future: Allen has moved down the defensive spectrum the past two years, which is not a positive sign for a young player purported to be a good athlete. He will have to fulfill the Dodgers' offensive projections to stand out in what could become a crowded left-field situation.