Things are getting interesting down in the Atlanta Braves camp. Nick Allen, who wasn’t even in the lineup for over a week, just came roaring back like he never left.
And not just with some bloop singles or lucky infield hits—he went 3-for-4, blasted a solo shot, and crossed home plate twice in a 13-4 beatdown of the Orioles. If you were watching, you know: the guy looked locked in.
Allen is Making His Case at the Plate
Let’s put this in perspective. Through 19 plate appearances this spring, Allen is slashing a ridiculous .471/.526/.706 with a homer and three RBIs. Yes, it’s the small sample size; we hear you.
But you know what? At some point, production is production, and Allen is producing. If nothing else, he’s making one thing very clear—he deserves a real look when the games start counting for something.
And here’s where it gets spicy. Just a day before Allen’s latest showcase, Eli White, who rarely gets a chance at shortstop in the majors, also had his shot. And guess what? He’s been raking, too. White is hitting .421 (8-for-19) with a 1.055 OPS this spring. So now, instead of a quiet, uncontested situation at shortstop, we’ve got a little competition brewing.
Orlando Arcia’s Struggles Continue
Meanwhile, the guy who was supposed to have this position locked up—Orlando Arcia—is scuffling. Again. He’s now 1-for-15 this spring, which isn’t exactly the “bounce-back” performance the Braves were hoping for after a rough 2024 season.
Let’s talk about last year because it was brutal. Arcia finished the season as the worst hitter in baseball, with runners in scoring position. He hit just .155 in those moments, with a dreadful .400 OPS.
Those aren’t just bad numbers—they’re lineup-sinking numbers. And now, with a sluggish start in camp, it’s fair to wonder if his struggles are more than just a phase.
Could Allen Force the Braves’ Hand?
So here’s the real question: how long do the Braves wait? Because right now, Allen looks like a guy who could force their hand. A former top prospect in Oakland’s system, he’s always had the glove, but the bat? That was the big question.
In Triple-A last year, he looked like a different hitter—he slashed .345 with a .928 OPS in 81 games. But when he got the call to Oakland, everything fell apart—.175 average, .463 OPS in 41 games. Something just didn’t click at the major league level.
Clearly, the Braves saw something they liked when they picked him up this offseason. And maybe—just maybe—they’re starting to unlock that potential. It’s too early to declare him the answer at shortstop, but if he keeps swinging it like this into late March? Well, at some point, you have to ask: why not give him a real shot? There is a real position battle in the works for Atlanta.
