The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Allen, up and down from Triple-A, contributes
Twenty-six-year-old is making plays with his glove, legs and arm
Outfielder Greg Allen has been up and down from Triple-A Columbus several times this season, but he has found ways to contribute as the Indians compete in the A.L. Central, David S. Glasier writes.
The Indians have made six roster moves this season with outfielder Greg Allen.
Three times, the 26-yearold Californian has been optioned from the big-league club to Triple-A Columbus.
Three times, Allen has been recalled from Columbus, most recently Aug. 6 when outfielder Jordan Luplow was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained hamstring.
While the back-and-forth routine is not ideal for any player, Allen has maintained a positive attitude.
“The goal always is to maximize the opportunities I’m given,” Allen said Aug. 13 before the Indians hosted the Red Sox in the middle game of a threegame series.
Allen did just that in six starts after he rejoined the Indians, batting .350 with one home run, a double and and three runs scored.
In the series finale against Minnesota on Aug. 11, he slammed a tape-measure home run in the top of the first inning and got down a bunt single in the top of the 10th to load the bases.
That set the stage for a Carlos Santana grand slam that propelled the Indians to a 7-3 victory and pulled them into a tie with the Twins for first place in the American League Central Division.
“It was special,” Allen said of the sequence of events capped by Santana’s slam. “(First base coach) Sandy (Alomar) was telling me, ‘Tag, tag.’ I’m thinking to myself, I’m pretty sure that ball is getting out. It showed what Carlos has meant to this team. He’s such a professional hitter.”
Allen smiled when asked about the bunt single that loomed large in that rally.
Throughout a professional career that began when he was selected by the Indians in the sixth round of the June 2014 draft out of San Diego State, Allen has fought the perception of having above-average speed and below-average bunting skills.
“There is always room to get better in every facet of the game,” Allen said. “I’ve taken it upon myself to make bunting one of the areas I’ve improved in.
“On that play, it was understanding the dynamics of a particular game. When I stepped to the plate with two (runners) on and no outs, my only thought was to get those runners into scoring position. I got the bunt down and did my job.”
Allen also made several top-notch plays with his glove in the Minnesota series.
Against the Red Sox on Aug. 12, playing left field, he registered an outfield putout in the Indians’ 6-5 victory.
“As outfielders on this team, we take pride in cutting down baserunners and stopping scoring opportunities,” Allen said. “Everybody has to be on point. It isn’t just one person making plays.”
In his earlier stints this season with the Indians, the team was playing inconsistently and trailed the Twins in the AL Central by as many as 11 ½ games.
During his last two stints, the Indians have been the hottest team in the big leagues and tracked down the Twins.
“We’re playing good baseball and understanding where we are in our season and in our divisional race,” Allen said. “We understand it’s not going to be easy. The Twins are a great team. They’ve shown that this whole year.
“We understand the magnitude of the next month and a half. It’s great to be in this position.”
He hopes to spend the rest of the season with the Indians and not have to rejoin the Clippers in Columbus.
“I can’t tell the future, but that is always the goal,” he said.
Allen made his big-league debut with the Indians on Sept. 1, 2017. He came into the game on Aug. 13 batting .244 in 51 games with three home runs and 16 RBI. In parts of three seasons, he’s batting .251 with six home runs and 44 RBI.