The High-A Stockton Ports entered 2019 with a stacked lineup, featuring six names from our Community Prospect List. Unfortunately their results haven’t yet matched that hype, as the team ranks second-to-last in the league in scoring, but one name in particular is rising above the rest — and not the one we might have expected. Nick Allen is arguably the best hitter on the Ports right now.
The A’s drafted Allen out of high school in 2017, picking him in the 3rd round but luring him away from college with 1st-round money. His carrying skill is top-notch defense at shortstop, with the main question being how much offense he would be able to squeeze out of his undersized 5’8 frame (and/or how much more he might still physically grow).