Brandon Allen (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brandon Allen |
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Allen with the Arizona Diamondbacks
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| St. Louis Cardinals – No. 87 | |||
| First baseman / Coach | |||
| Born: February 12, 1986 Conroe, Texas, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: August 22, 2009, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |||
| NPB: August 12, 2012, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: May 9, 2012, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |||
| NPB: August 25, 2012, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .203 | ||
| Home runs | 12 | ||
| Runs batted in | 41 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .171 | ||
| Home runs | 0 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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Brandon Durell Allen, born on February 12, 1986, is an American baseball coach and a former player. He used to play as a first baseman, which is a player who fields near first base. Now, he's an assistant hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, a famous team in Major League Baseball (MLB). Brandon also played for teams like the Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics, and Tampa Bay Rays in MLB. He even played in Japan for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks!
Contents
Playing Baseball: Brandon's Journey
Starting Out with the White Sox and Diamondbacks
Brandon Allen started his professional baseball journey when the Chicago White Sox picked him in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. This is like a special selection event where teams choose young players.
Later, in 2009, Brandon was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He made his first big league appearance, called his "debut," on August 22, 2009. In his first game, he got a single hit. That season, he played 32 games, hitting four home runs and getting 14 RBIs.
In 2010, Brandon played most of the season in Triple-A, which is a high level of Minor League Baseball. He was called up to the Diamondbacks again in September. In his first game back, he hit his first career grand slam! This is a home run hit with all three bases occupied, scoring four runs.
Time with the Oakland Athletics
On July 31, 2011, Brandon was traded to the Oakland Athletics. He was sent to their Triple-A team first.
On August 23, 2011, Brandon did something amazing. He hit a home run into the upper deck at the New Yankee Stadium. He was only the second player ever to do this! Later in the same game, he hit another home run, helping the Athletics win.
Playing for the Tampa Bay Rays
In April 2012, Brandon joined the Tampa Bay Rays. He had a memorable moment with the Rays when he hit a two-run walk-off home run. A walk-off home run is a hit that ends the game immediately by putting the hitting team ahead. This hit helped the Rays win and sweep the series against the Los Angeles Angels.
Minor League Teams and More
After his time in MLB, Brandon continued to play baseball in the minor leagues. He signed deals with teams like the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, and Cincinnati Reds. He played for their Triple-A teams, gaining more experience. For example, with the Tucson Padres, he played mostly at first base but also in the outfield.
Becoming a Coach
After his playing career, Brandon Allen decided to become a coach.
Coaching in the Minor Leagues
In 2017, Brandon became a hitting coach for the Johnson City Cardinals. This team is part of the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He helped young players learn how to hit better.
He kept moving up in the Cardinals' minor league system. In 2018, he coached the Single-A Palm Beach Cardinals. In 2019, he became the hitting coach for the Double-A Springfield Cardinals. Then, in 2020, he was promoted to coach the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.
Coaching in Major League Baseball
On November 6, 2022, Brandon Allen achieved a big goal. He became the assistant hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball. This was his first coaching job in the big leagues!
