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. He used to be a professional baseball player, mainly playing as a first baseman. Today, he is the assistant hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, a team in Major League Baseball (MLB). He 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.
Brandon Allen's Baseball Journey
Starting His Professional Career
Brandon Allen began his professional baseball journey when the Chicago White Sox picked him in the fifth round of the 2004 MLB Draft. This was a big step for him into the world of professional baseball.
Playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks
On July 7, 2009, Brandon was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He made his first appearance in a major league game on August 22, 2009. In that game, he got his first hit. For the rest of that season, he played in 32 games. He hit four home runs and had 14 RBIs.
In 2010, Brandon spent most of the year playing for a minor league team. He was called back up to the Diamondbacks on September 1, 2010. In his very first game back, he hit his first career grand slam against the San Diego Padres. He finished that season with a good batting average in 22 games.
Time with the Oakland Athletics
On July 31, 2011, Brandon was traded to the Oakland Athletics. He continued to play well. On August 23, 2011, he made history by hitting 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 the game.
Joining the Tampa Bay Rays
Brandon was later picked up by the Tampa Bay Rays on April 19, 2012. He quickly made an impact with his new team. He hit his first home run for the Rays, which was a two-run walk-off home run. This exciting hit helped the Rays win the game and sweep the series against the Los Angeles Angels.
Minor League Teams and Continued Play
After his time in MLB, Brandon continued to play baseball in the minor leagues.
Texas Rangers Minor League Deal
In 2013, he signed a deal with the Texas Rangers to play in their minor league system. He also got an invitation to their spring training. However, he was released by the Rangers before the regular season began.
San Diego Padres Minor League Deal
On April 9, 2013, Brandon signed another minor league deal, this time with the San Diego Padres. He played for their Triple-A team, the Tucson Padres. He mostly played first base but also spent time in left field. In 119 games, he hit 17 home runs and had 76 RBIs.
New York Mets Minor League Deal
Brandon then signed with the New York Mets on November 19, 2013. He spent two years, 2014 and 2015, playing for their Triple-A team, the Las Vegas 51s.
Cincinnati Reds Minor League Deal
On November 30, Brandon signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds. He was briefly called up to the Reds' main team in April 2016 but did not play in a game before being released.
Becoming a Baseball Coach
After his playing career, Brandon Allen moved into coaching. He has been a hitting coach for several teams.
Coaching for the St. Louis Cardinals Organization
On June 22, 2017, Brandon became the hitting coach for the Johnson City Cardinals. This team is a part of the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He then moved up to coach for the Single-A Palm Beach Cardinals in 2018. In 2019, he became the hitting coach for the Double-A Springfield Cardinals. He was promoted again in 2020 to coach the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.
Major League Coaching Role
Brandon's hard work paid off. On November 6, 2022, he earned his first major league coaching job. He became the assistant hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. This means he helps the main players on the Cardinals team improve their hitting skills.
