In need of outfield depth, the Pittsburgh Pirates turned to the waiver wire Friday and claimed switch-hitting Greg Allen off waivers from the New York Yankees.
The 6-foot, 185-pound Allen, 28, can play all three spots but has played more games in center field (112) than left (61) or right (31). He has 37 stolen bases and seven triples in 236 career games. He batted .270/.417/.432 with four doubles, one triple and two RBIs in 15 games for the Yankees last season and was added to their postseason roster, appearing in four games as a late-inning defensive replacement.
It is a triple for Greg Allen! I think he's gonna make this team soon. pic.twitter.com/dVJCvbV81r
— John Sterling Calls (@JSterlingCalls) July 21, 2021
Drafted by Cleveland in the sixth round out of San Diego State in 2014, Allen made his major league debut in September 2017. He batted .257 with 11 doubles, three triples, two homers, 20 RBIs and a career-best 21 stolen bases in 91 games in 2018, then hit .229 with nine doubles, three triples, four homers and 27 RBIs in 2019.
Allen was dealt to San Diego at the trade deadline in August 2020, along with Mike Clevinger and Matt Waldron, in a nine-player deal. Allen played only one game for the Padres before being optioned to their alternate training site and designated for assignment on Dec. 31. Allen was traded to the Yankees for James Reeves in January.
