Hard Work Pays Off For Padres Catcher Allen

The highest-ever draft pick from Division II Florida Tech wasn’t feeling the pressure of rewarding the Padres’ faith. He just wanted to have fun.

And so far in 2016, that’s what Austin Allen is doing.

The fourth-round pick last year was known as a bat-first catcher who needed better footwork and the tutelage to learn the nuances of receiving pitches and blocking balls in the dirt. But Allen also struggled at the plate in his pro debut, hitting just .240/.315/.332 with two home runs in 53 games at short-season Tri-City.

Consequently, he did not rank among San Diego’s Top 30 Prospects last offseason, despite his draft pedigree and despite playing in a very shallow system. That will change this year, it appears.

Allen is off to a great start at low Class A Fort Wayne this season. The 22-year-old lefthanded hitter leads the Midwest League in average at .407 through 25 games, and he ranks second in on-base percentage at .490. He had more walks (13) than strikeouts (12).

Allen, a St. Louis native, had a simple explanation for his early-season success.

“I think last season in (Tri-City) I was trying to do too much instead of having fun playing baseball,” he said on May 9 after the TinCaps’ game against Great Lakes got rained out. “I am more relaxed, sticking with my approach every day.”

Allen credited his early success to his offseason workouts in Florida with Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor and Marlins utility infielder Derek Dietrich, from whom he learned “little tips.”

“It’s pretty much about getting my body into good hitting position, and just looking in my zone and trying to get a good pitch,” said Allen, who has worked with Padres roving hitting instructor Luis Ortiz, Fort Wayne hitting coach Lance Burkhart and Double-A San Antonio hitting coach Johnny Washington.

But Padres scouts were confident that the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Allen would hit. He has plus raw power and had slugged .728 as a junior.

“I’m surprised he hasn’t drawn more attention,” farm director Sam Geaney said. “We really liked the guy we saw last summer. He was solid. But he came into camp (this year) like he really got after it. He committed himself. He’s a half-grade to full grade better across the board.”

Emphasis On Defense

It was his work behind the plate—not at it—that was a concern, and Allen knew that.

“I worked hard this offseason on the defense and offense, because I wanted to be ready going into spring training,” Allen said. “I worked with (roving catching instructor) John Nester, just getting reps.

“Coming from Florida Tech into pro ball, the pitching was a little better, and I had to work hard to improve myself. Working with Lindor, I wanted to know what he sees from (Royals catcher Salvador Perez) and (Indians catcher) Yan Gomes, and what I can incorporate from that drill work into a game.”

Nester, in his first year as a coach after catching in the Padres organization in 2014, said the transition from Division II to pro ball takes time.

“A lot plays into that,” Nester said. “The difference in velocity (for example). Also, he’s a big guy, and just . . . being in an athletic position, (will help) him be able to move a little bit. It’s a work in progress.”

Allen has an average arm but has a bit of a hitch in his throwing motion. He’s thrown out just two of 13 basestealers this season. A year ago, he caught just 15 of 74 (17 percent).

“It’s a kind of hitch, almost a pump. It’s a little bit of extra movement,” Nester said. “That’s something Austin worked on all offseason. We’ve talked about a few different things. It’s just part of his arm stroke—he’s got a little bit of wasted movement. The main thing is, we don’t want him to rush it. The worst thing you can do is force it and then make an errant throw.”

A scout who saw Allen against Kane County in May said the catcher’s footwork behind the plate looked better from a year ago. The blocking and receiving still need work, however, as well as working with pitchers.

“I’m learning (how to call a game),” Allen said. “I was able to call a lot of the games (at Florida Tech), but I’m learning how to read the hitters and situations (as a pro). Like if there’s a runner on second and the batter wants to move him over, how to pitch him from there.

“I just want to catch the baseball and just get strikes out of strikes and on borderline pitches—just let the umpire make his call. I just want to be quiet out there.”

The Padres recognize Allen’s offseason work and praise him for putting in the time.

“I think it’s a real tangible improvement,” Geaney said, noting the time spent with players such as Lindor, Gomes and Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli helped.

“If you surround yourself with good players, you’re going to get better.”