Brandon Allen

Things became murky for Allen last offseason when Adam LaRoche was signed as a free agent to be the everyday first baseman. Rather than keep him around as a power bat off the bench, the D-Backs sent Allen to Triple-A Reno where he suffered an early-season shoulder injury that sidelined him for a month. After returning to the lineup in June, Allen hit .280 with 22 homers in 286 at-bats for the Aces while maintaining an excellent 67:73 BB:K before his September callup to Arizona. In addition to hitting for power and showing a good eye at the plate, Allen worked on learning to play left field, which certainly bodes well for his chances of receiving regular at-bats with the acquisitions of Juan Miranda and Xavier Nady potentially blocking his path at first base. Offensively, he's got nothing left to prove in the minors, and his power potential should make him a popular upside target on draft day.

Allen's stock went through the roof after the D-Backs acquired him from the White Sox in a trade for reliever Tony Pena in July. Upon arrival, Allen reported to Triple-A Reno and went on to swing one of the hottest bats in the Pacific Coast League during the second half of the season with a .324/.413/.641 line including 12 homers and 32 RBI in just 145 at-bats before the D-Backs made him a late-season callup. After his promotion, Allen appeared to be overmatched by big league pitching with a strikeout every 2.6 at-bats over a small sample size down the stretch. In an Arizona organization that desperately lacks major-league ready talent capable of hitting for power, Allen could quickly play his way into the role of long-term first baseman. Eventually, he could be a viable 30-35 homer candidate, but he'll have to earn his at-bats during spring training and a platoon situation could ultimately unfold.