It didn’t take long for the Atlanta Braves to shake things up. Just one game into the season, Manager Brian Snitker handed the shortstop reins to Nick Allen over Orlando Arcia for Friday’s matchup against the San Diego Padres. This isn’t just a routine lineup change. This has “tryout” written all over it.
A Numbers Game: Why Allen Gets the Nod
Allen has a solid track record against Padres ace Dylan Cease, going 4-for-7 with four RBIs in his career. That’s enough to catch Snitker’s eye and worth giving the hot hand a shot. This was a prime opportunity for Allen to make a statement.
Orlando Arcia didn’t exactly dazzle on Opening Day, finishing 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in the Braves’ 7-4 loss. After an uninspired performance like that, it’s no surprise Snitker is willing to test the waters with Allen, especially after the young shortstop tore it up in Spring Training.
Allen slashed an impressive .359/.395/.487 with a homer, five RBIs, and three extra-base hits in 17 Grapefruit League games. Spring numbers don’t always translate, but when a guy’s swinging the bat that well you have to try to see if he can carry that over into the regular season.
Allen’s Mixed Track Record
Allen’s Major League track record is not exactly inspiring. Across 247 big-league games, the former Oakland Athletic has a career .209 average with a .537 OPS. Last season he had a rough .175 average and .463 OPS in 81 games. That’s tough to ignore. Yet, it’s equally tough to overlook his monstrous performance in Triple-A, where he raked to the tune of a .345 average with a .928 OPS.
What we’ve got here is a tale of two hitters. Minor league Nick Allen? A force to be reckoned with. Major league Nick Allen? Not so much — at least, not yet. And now, he’s faced a major test against a Cy Young-caliber pitcher.
If he put together a solid day at the plate, suddenly, those Spring Training stats don’t look so flimsy. Confidence breeds results; for Allen, this could be the spark he needs to prove he belongs.
What’s Next for Arcia With the Braves?
Don’t count Arcia out just yet. One rough day doesn’t define a season, and the Braves aren’t exactly ready to bench him. Those scales might start to tip if Allen stays hot though. Atlanta may have a shortstop battle continuing this season, things should get interesting.
