Nick Allen Stats & Scouting Report

AB	97
AVG	.175
OBP	.216
SLG	.247
HR	1

Full name Nicholas Ryan Allen
Born 10/08/1998 in San Diego, CA
Profile Ht.: 5'8" / Wt.: 166 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Parker
Debut 04/19/2022
Drafted in the 3rd round (81st overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2017 (signed for $2,000,000).

View Draft Report

Allen is a mesmerizing prospect. He shows flashes with every tool. Allen has excellent range at shortstop to go along with plus body control and arm strength. He is a plus runner and flashes sneaky raw power in batting practice. However, Allen is 5-foot-8 and could be one of the smallest prospects ever taken in the first round. Allen's height leads him to play with a chip on his shoulder and he receives positive reviews for his competitive nature and hustle. Allen has a high baseball IQ and shows natural instincts both as a defender and as a righthanded hitter. Allen has a compact swing with quick hands and he keeps the barrel of his bat through the hitting zone well. He makes a lot of contact and covers the plate well, and he showed the ability to barrel up line drives against good pitching on the showcase circuit. The San Diego native is committed to Southern California. His tools would fit closer to the top of the draft, but pro teams have concerns about how his smaller body will hold up over the course of a full season. Even with those concerns, Allen is likely to be selected on the first day of the draft.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: It didn’t take Allen long to become one of the minors’ best defensive shortstops after the A’s made him their third-round selection in 2017, giving him a $2 million bonus that was nearly three times his slot value. His bat is now catching up. Allen opened 2021 at Double-A Midland, then started at shortstop for Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics. Oakland promoted Allen to Triple-A Las Vegas when he returned, and Allen hit .313 in September after taking some time to adjust.

Scouting Report: Allen’s glove is major league ready now, and he could compete for Gold Gloves one day. His deft hands, instincts and footwork at shortstop allow him to make exceptional defensive plays look easy, and he made the routine plays more consistently in 2021 as well. Whether the 5-foot-8 shortstop reaches his everyday ceiling hinges on the incremental development of his bat, which took another step forward in 2021. The A’s worked diligently with Allen to avoid chasing power and instead employ a flighted, gap-to-gap approach more suited to his inside-out bat stroke. Allen has average bat speed and opposing evaluators are concerned he’ll struggle against premium big league velocity. He displays a solid understanding of the strike zone, and the A’s believe he made progress laying off high fastballs.

The Future: Allen profiles as a second-division regular at shortstop who could easily handle a Nick Punto-esque super-utility role if needed. He should compete for Oakland’s starting shortstop job in 2022.
Hitting: 50. Power: 30. Running: 60. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: Allen earned a reputation as a defensive wizard as an amateur and signed with the Athletics for $2 million as a third-round pick in 2017, nearly triple the slot amount. He began to progress offensively at high Class A Stockton in 2019 before a high ankle sprain wiped out the second half of his season. Allen returned healthy in 2020 and spent the summer at the alternate training site in San Jose before finishing at instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: One of the top defensive shortstops in the minors, Allen is a Gold Glove-type caliber defender who was nicknamed “Magic Man” by his coaches in Stockton. He is a twitchy, instinctive defender who glides to the ball, has superb hands, covers a wide range with his plus speed and has a plus, accurate arm to convert every play. The 5-foot-8 infielder fights a glove-only perception and led the Cal League in doubles before his season-ending injury in 2019. Allen has good hand-eye coordination, and the A’s have worked with him to avoid chasing power—and fastballs up in the zone—and instead focus on a gap-to-gap approach, using fellow undersized infielder David Fletcher as a blueprint.

THE FUTURE: How Allen progresses as a hitter will determine whether he becomes a slick-fielding backup or something more. He is slated to begin the 2021 season in Double-A.
TRACK RECORD: The 5-foot-9 Allen has long held a reputation as a spectacular defender with a light bat, but he began changing that perception in 2019. Allen got stronger and adjusted his approach to use the whole field at high Class A Stockton, and he tied for the California League lead in doubles before suffering a season-ending ankle sprain on June 27.

SCOUTING REPORT: Allen is a twitchy, instinctive defender who moves well in every direction with plus speed. He makes highlight-reel plays and the routine ones, and he almost never makes a fielding error with his clean hands. Allen's arm ticked up to plus as he got stronger, burnishing his reputation as a potential Gold Glove shortstop. Scouts like Allen's swing and hand-eye coordination at the plate, but his compact frame limits his projection and caps most of his evaluations at an average hitter with well below-average power.

THE FUTURE: Allen's defense will earn him playing time, and he has started hitting just enough to profile as a potential starter rather than a pure backup. He'll try to keep it going at Double-A Midland in 2020.
Track Record: Were he a few inches taller than his listed 5-foot-9, Allen probably would have been a first-round pick in 2017 based on his defensive prowess. Instead he fell to the Athletics in the third round but still signed for $2 million, which is back-of-the-first-round money. Allen has been pushed aggressively in pro ball and spent his first full season at low Class A Beloit. He didn't hit much but did lead Midwest League shortstops in assists (315) and fielding percentage (.965).

Scouting Report: Allen is a plus defender with a preternatural feel for taking the right angle to the ball. His above-average arm is enhanced by a quick release and pinpoint accuracy to the degree that he rarely makes throwing errors. He turns in plus run times to first base and is a quality baserunner who swiped 24 bags in the MWL. Allen has hit .242 with one home run in his first two pro seasons, though his fortune improved late in 2018 with Beloit. He hit .330/.368/.423 in his final 24 games. As an amateur, Allen could drive the ball with aluminum bats but hasn't had the same success with wood. The A's worked with him in instructional league to improve his strike-zone awareness, hunt his pitch and not hit so many balls in the air for lazy fly outs.

The Future: Allen has work to do to develop an average major league bat, but he has good hand-eye coordination, takes competitive at-bats and could grow into more power as he physically matures.
Allen became known as a defensive wizard at San Diego's Francis Parker School and on the national showcase circuit, with evaluators considering him the top defensive shortstop in the 2017 draft class. A strong commitment to Southern California dropped him out of the first round, but the A's drafted him in the third round and signed him for $2 million, nearly triple slot value as the 81st overall pick. In an organization brimming with promising middle infielders, Allen rates as the best defensive shortstop in the system. He has a plus arm and plus speed. Combine those assets with great hands, and his defense is plus-plus with ease. The main question about Allen is his size. He is generously listed at 5-foot-9 and extremely slight with little projection for strength. His bat is light and doesn't project to ever be much of a weapon, although his plus speed makes him a stolen base threat. Some see Brendan Ryan as Allen's future, but even Ryan hit well in the minors. Allen will have to prove he can hit, even with his elite shortstop defense. He figures to begin 2018 at low Class A Beloit.

Draft Prospects

Allen is a mesmerizing prospect. He shows flashes with every tool. Allen has excellent range at shortstop to go along with plus body control and arm strength. He is a plus runner and flashes sneaky raw power in batting practice. However, Allen is 5-foot-8 and could be one of the smallest prospects ever taken in the first round. Allen's height leads him to play with a chip on his shoulder and he receives positive reviews for his competitive nature and hustle. Allen has a high baseball IQ and shows natural instincts both as a defender and as a righthanded hitter. Allen has a compact swing with quick hands and he keeps the barrel of his bat through the hitting zone well. He makes a lot of contact and covers the plate well, and he showed the ability to barrel up line drives against good pitching on the showcase circuit. The San Diego native is committed to Southern California. His tools would fit closer to the top of the draft, but pro teams have concerns about how his smaller body will hold up over the course of a full season. Even with those concerns, Allen is likely to be selected on the first day of the draft.

Minor League Top Prospects

Stockton coaches nicknamed Allen "Magic Man” for his defensive wizardry this year. Regarded as arguably the best defensive shortstop in the minors, the 5-foot-8 Allen earned admirers far and wide. Allen is a twitchy, instinctive shortstop with wide lateral range and pristine hands. He got stronger and developed plus arm strength this year, eliminating the one previous knock on his game. He rarely makes errors while converting every tough play, to the point observers predict multiple Gold Gloves in his future. "I thought he was good last year, and he’s even better this year,” Modesto manager Denny Hocking said. "It’s elite. In two years I can’t remember him throwing a ball away.” Allen’s size yields questions about his offensive impact, but his added strength helped him tie for the league lead in doubles until he suffered a severe ankle sprain on June 27. He stays within himself and has the hand-eye coordination to hit for average.
Of all players in the AZL this year, Allen is the most likely to make it to the big leagues for one big reason--he's an elite defender at shortstop. He signed for $2 million as a third-round pick--he fell in part because he is 5-foot-9--and is a dynamic defender, often making multiple spectacular plays every game. Allen has plus to plus-plus hands and top-of-the-scale instincts. He also showed a better-than-expected arm, at least average when he needs it, but he knows who's running and exerts only as much effort as needed to get the out. Allen takes competitive at-bats, with the ability to see the ball deep into the zone and consistently make good contact with line drive power up the middle of the field. He's a plus runner with excellent instincts on the bases. Allen works very hard and earns the "grinder" label from scouts. "I call him the ‘Little Magic Man'," Athletics manager Webster Garrison said. "He's amazing out there . . . cat-quick, very strong arm, can throw from all different angles."

Best Tools List

Rated Best Defensive Infielder in the Oakland Athletics in 2020
Rated Best Defensive Infielder in the Oakland Athletics in 2019
Rated Best Defensive Infielder in the Oakland Athletics in 2018

Scouting Reports

Track Record: It didn’t take Allen long to become one of the minors’ best defensive shortstops after the A’s made him their third-round selection in 2017, giving him a $2 million bonus that was nearly three times his slot value. His bat is now catching up. Allen opened 2021 at Double-A Midland, then started at shortstop for Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics. Oakland promoted Allen to Triple-A Las Vegas when he returned, and Allen hit .313 in September after taking some time to adjust.

Scouting Report: Allen’s glove is major league ready now, and he could compete for Gold Gloves one day. His deft hands, instincts and footwork at shortstop allow him to make exceptional defensive plays look easy, and he made the routine plays more consistently in 2021 as well. Whether the 5-foot-8 shortstop reaches his everyday ceiling hinges on the incremental development of his bat, which took another step forward in 2021. The A’s worked diligently with Allen to avoid chasing power and instead employ a flighted, gap-to-gap approach more suited to his inside-out bat stroke. Allen has average bat speed and opposing evaluators are concerned he’ll struggle against premium big league velocity. He displays a solid understanding of the strike zone, and the A’s believe he made progress laying off high fastballs.

The Future: Allen profiles as a second-division regular at shortstop who could easily handle a Nick Punto-esque super-utility role if needed. He should compete for Oakland’s starting shortstop job in 2022.
Hitting: 50. Power: 30. Running: 60. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: Allen earned a reputation as a defensive wizard as an amateur and signed with the Athletics for $2 million as a third-round pick in 2017, nearly triple the slot amount. He began to progress offensively at high Class A Stockton in 2019 before a high ankle sprain wiped out the second half of his season. Allen returned healthy in 2020 and spent the summer at the alternate training site in San Jose before finishing at instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: One of the top defensive shortstops in the minors, Allen is a Gold Glove-type caliber defender who was nicknamed “Magic Man” by his coaches in Stockton. He is a twitchy, instinctive defender who glides to the ball, has superb hands, covers a wide range with his plus speed and has a plus, accurate arm to convert every play. The 5-foot-8 infielder fights a glove-only perception and led the Cal League in doubles before his season-ending injury in 2019. Allen has good hand-eye coordination, and the A's have worked with him to avoid chasing power—and fastballs up in the zone—and instead focus on a gap-to-gap approach, using fellow undersized infielder David Fletcher as a blueprint.

THE FUTURE: How Allen progresses as a hitter will determine whether he becomes a slick-fielding backup or something more. He is slated to begin the 2021 season in Double-A.
Hitting: 50. Power: 30. Running: 60. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: Allen earned a reputation as a defensive wizard as an amateur and signed with the Athletics for $2 million as a third-round pick in 2017, nearly triple the slot amount. He began to progress offensively at high Class A Stockton in 2019 before a high ankle sprain wiped out the second half of his season. Allen returned healthy in 2020 and spent the summer at the alternate training site in San Jose before finishing at instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: One of the top defensive shortstops in the minors, Allen is a Gold Glove-type caliber defender who was nicknamed “Magic Man” by his coaches in Stockton. He is a twitchy, instinctive defender who glides to the ball, has superb hands, covers a wide range with his plus speed and has a plus, accurate arm to convert every play. The 5-foot-8 infielder fights a glove-only perception and led the Cal League in doubles before his season-ending injury in 2019. Allen has good hand-eye coordination, and the A’s have worked with him to avoid chasing power—and fastballs up in the zone—and instead focus on a gap-to-gap approach, using fellow undersized infielder David Fletcher as a blueprint.

THE FUTURE: How Allen progresses as a hitter will determine whether he becomes a slick-fielding backup or something more. He is slated to begin the 2021 season in Double-A.
Hitting: 50. Power: 30. Running: 60. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: Allen earned a reputation as a defensive wizard as an amateur and signed with the Athletics for $2 million as a third-round pick in 2017, nearly triple the slot amount. He began to progress offensively at high Class A Stockton in 2019 before a high ankle sprain wiped out the second half of his season. Allen returned healthy in 2020 and spent the summer at the alternate training site in San Jose before finishing at instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: One of the top defensive shortstops in the minors, Allen is a Gold Glove-type caliber defender who was nicknamed “Magic Man” by his coaches in Stockton. He is a twitchy, instinctive defender who glides to the ball, has superb hands, covers a wide range with his plus speed and has a plus, accurate arm to convert every play. The 5-foot-8 infielder fights a glove-only perception and led the Cal League in doubles before his season-ending injury in 2019. Allen has good hand-eye coordination, and the A’s have worked with him to avoid chasing power—and fastballs up in the zone—and instead focus on a gap-to-gap approach, using fellow undersized infielder David Fletcher as a blueprint.

THE FUTURE: How Allen progresses as a hitter will determine whether he becomes a slick-fielding backup or something more. He is slated to begin the 2021 season in Double-A.
TRACK RECORD: The 5-foot-9 Allen has long held a reputation as a spectacular defender with a light bat, but he began changing that perception in 2019. Allen got stronger and adjusted his approach to use the whole field at high Class A Stockton, and he tied for the California League lead in doubles before suffering a season-ending ankle sprain on June 27.

SCOUTING REPORT: Allen is a twitchy, instinctive defender who moves well in every direction with plus speed. He makes highlight-reel plays and the routine ones, and he almost never makes a fielding error with his clean hands. Allen’s arm ticked up to plus as he got stronger, burnishing his reputation as a potential Gold Glove shortstop. Scouts like Allen’s swing and hand-eye coordination at the plate, but his compact frame limits his projection and caps most of his evaluations at an average hitter with well below-average power.

THE FUTURE: Allen’s defense will earn him playing time, and he has started hitting just enough to profile as a potential starter rather than a pure backup. He’ll try to keep it going at Double-A Midland in 2020.
TRACK RECORD: The 5-foot-9 Allen has long held a reputation as a spectacular defender with a light bat, but he began changing that perception in 2019. Allen got stronger and adjusted his approach to use the whole field at high Class A Stockton, and he tied for the California League lead in doubles before suffering a season-ending ankle sprain on June 27.

SCOUTING REPORT: Allen is a twitchy, instinctive defender who moves well in every direction with plus speed. He makes highlight-reel plays and the routine ones, and he almost never makes a fielding error with his clean hands. Allen's arm ticked up to plus as he got stronger, burnishing his reputation as a potential Gold Glove shortstop. Scouts like Allen's swing and hand-eye coordination at the plate, but his compact frame limits his projection and caps most of his evaluations at an average hitter with well below-average power.

THE FUTURE: Allen's defense will earn him playing time, and he has started hitting just enough to profile as a potential starter rather than a pure backup. He'll try to keep it going at Double-A Midland in 2020.
Stockton coaches nicknamed Allen "Magic Man” for his defensive wizardry this year. Regarded as arguably the best defensive shortstop in the minors, the 5-foot-8 Allen earned admirers far and wide. Allen is a twitchy, instinctive shortstop with wide lateral range and pristine hands. He got stronger and developed plus arm strength this year, eliminating the one previous knock on his game. He rarely makes errors while converting every tough play, to the point observers predict multiple Gold Gloves in his future. "I thought he was good last year, and he’s even better this year,” Modesto manager Denny Hocking said. "It’s elite. In two years I can’t remember him throwing a ball away.” Allen’s size yields questions about his offensive impact, but his added strength helped him tie for the league lead in doubles until he suffered a severe ankle sprain on June 27. He stays within himself and has the hand-eye coordination to hit for average.