Last night was a big night on the Cincinnati Reds farm. There were huge performances from several of the organizations top prospects. But it may have been a little bit more special for Jay Allen than for anyone else. The 1st round pick (30th overall) was making his professional debut with the Arizona Complex League Reds in a road game against the Angels.
In his first trip to the plate he drew a walk. He would steal a base and score a run on a wild pitch later in the inning. But it was the next trip to the plate that was likely one the 18-year-old will remember forever. Jay Allen unloaded on a pitch and hit it out of Tempe Diablo Stadium. Not over the wall. Well, yes, over the wall, but literally out of the entire stadium.
Thats one way to start off the pro career by Reds 1st round Comp pick (30th overall) Jay Allen. 1st hit is an absolute ??? pic.twitter.com/TtFXP1kh4V
— Prospects Worldwide (@ProspectsWorldW) August 13, 2021
You can’t see where the ball lands in this video. But Bill Mitchell of Baseball America was at the game, too, and he noted that the ball cleared the hedges beyond the wall at the top of the berm. It’s 400+ feet to get the ball over those hedges and out of the stadium. Jay Allen would add a single later and finish the game 2-3 with a homer and a walk. Not a bad way to make your professional debut.
Jose Barrero has another big game
Big games abound in the minors last night and the biggest may have come from Jose Barrero. The Louisville Bats shortstop had two home runs, a double, and a walk while going 3-4.
To say that Jose Barrero has been on fire of late would be an understatement. He’s hit well all year, but over the last month – stretching 25 games in Triple-A Louisville – he’s hitting .370/.447/.730 with 18 extra-base hits.
Over at Redleg Nation earlier today I wrote about Jose Barrero and just how much longer the team can keep him in Triple-A. It’s time. Figure it out and call him up.
Austin Hendrick crushes one 442 feet in Daytona
Last night saw Austin Hendrick go 4-4 with a double, home run, and three runs scored. It was the first time in his career he picked up four hits in a single game. It was just a continuation of what he’s been doing for the last three weeks. In his last 19 games he’s hitting .318/.464/.621 with 12 extra-base hits.
The home run that Hendrick hit was a big time blast. The Trackman system in Daytona estimated it at 442 feet. That was the longest home run of the season for Hendrick, topping the 434 foot homer that he hit earlier this season.