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LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers on Saturday drafted third baseman Jimmy Allen out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with their 24th round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, selection No. 729 overall.
The 5'10, 180-pound third baseman bats and throws right-handed. He hit .298/.337/.455 with 13 doubles, three triples and six home runs in 59 games in his senior campaign. He is the Cal Poly SLO all-time leader in hits.
Baseball America in their pre-draft rankings tabbed Allen as the 414th-best prospect in the draft.
"His stock has dropped a bit, in part because he put on some weight and has shown less arm strength and speed than he did a year ago, when both tools rated as 55s. Now his arm grades out as average, and his speed is fringy," detailed the Baseball America scouting report of Allen. "Still, he’s a good athlete with sound infield actions, and he figures to make a seamless transition to second base in pro ball, with enough versatility to fill in all over the diamond."
The 22-year-old Allen has been drafted twice before. The Angels selected Allen in the 39th round in 2010 out of Rancho Buena Vista High School in San Diego, and the Red Sox drafted him after his junior year in the 23rd round in 2013.
Allen told Joshua D. Scroggin of the San Luis Obispo Tribune he didn't regret his decision to comeback for his senior season, even if it meant getting picked one round later than in 2013:
"This time it was a lot more exciting because I know I’m actually going to sign this time and I’m actually going to start my pro career," Allen said. "In high school, it was a good honor, but I was coming to Cal Poly, and last year, there was a sense in my heart that I needed to come back.
"It was the best decision I’ve probably ever made. Just to experience the season we had, winning the Big West, hosting a regional and the whole experience with the community support, it’s something I’ll never forget."
Allen tweeted out his excitement at getting drafted.
Thank you to the Dodgers for giving me this opportunity, and thank you to Cal Poly and the San Luis Obispo community for the best 4 years!!
— Jimmy Allen (@j_allen_15) June 7, 2014
Dodger blue never looked so good
— Jimmy Allen (@j_allen_15) June 8, 2014