RF Allen is well-armed

Steve Guiremand

Monday, July 1, 2002 | 10:52 a.m.

Las Vegas 51s right fielder Luke Allen is to the Pacific Coast League what John Stockton is to NBA basketball.

Just call him "Mr. Assist."

The strong-armed 25-year-old native of Covington, Ga., has already amassed 16 assists, and there's still a week left until the All-Star break.

The PCL doesn't keep official tabs on outfield assists, but it's doubtful that anyone in baseball, much less in Triple-A, is close to Allen's season total.

"When a guy has 12 assists for a season, it's very good," 51s manager Brad Mills said before a 5-4 victory over New Orleans on Sunday night at Cashman Field. "For (Allen) to have that many assists this far along in the season is pretty amazing."

Apparently, opponents still haven't taken note of Allen's defensive prowess, because baserunners continue trying to take extra bases against him.

"Guys have been running and giving me the opportunity (to throw them out)," Allen said. "Luckily enough, I've been able to throw the ball straight this year. I'm not throwing as hard as I can anymore and I'm trying to be more accurate."

Still, Allen's laser-like relays have brought more than their share of "oohs" and "aahs."

"He does have a strong arm," Mills said, "but I've seen stronger arms. But I think if he takes care of his arm, which he does, I think it's going to get even stronger. He's not at his peak yet with his arm strength. But what makes him better than a lot of guys with stronger arms is his accuracy. His accuracy is outstanding."

His hitting isn't too shabby, either. Going into Sunday, Allen was hitting .351 with seven home runs and 49 RBI. He was selected as a reserve for the PCL squad in next week's Triple-A All-Star Game in Oklahoma City.

Not bad for a guy who went undrafted out of high school. He signed as a free agent with the Dodgers over his hometown Atlanta Braves, Rockies and Rangers after lighting up the Juggs guns with 94-mph fastballs in an American Legion tourney. The Dodgers were the only team receptive to Allen's aspirations of becoming an everyday player.

"The Dodgers have given me a pretty fair shot so far, especially considering I was a free agent," Allen said.

Allen began his pro career as an infielder and played third base at Double-A San Antonio until suffering a serious eye injury on a bad-hop grounder two years ago.

"We were playing a game at Round Rock (Texas) at that new field Nolan Ryan built," Allen said. "I was playing in when their leadoff hitter, Johnny Perez, hit a ball toward me. The ball just hit something at the last minute and ricocheted straight up and hit me right below the right eye. There was nothing I could do about it. The next thing I knew I was on my back."

And facing reconstructive surgery around his eye socket.

"I've got screws and plates in my face," Allen said.

Allen missed the remainder of the 2000 season. The next season, he moved to the outfield where he led all Dodgers minor leaguers with 33 doubles and helped spark Jacksonville to a Southern League co-championship.

Now he's starring at Triple-A. But he's the first to realize that the final step to the big leagues will be the hardest, mainly because the Dodgers already have a pretty fair right fielder named Shawn Green.

"Yeah, it's frustrating. I'm not going to lie about it," Allen said. "There's nothing else I can do but just keep going out and playing and getting better."

Chen, who had his first four-hit game of the season, opened the 13th with an infield single off reliever Travis Wade and took third on Bubba Crosby's single.

New Orleans manager Chris Maloney opted to go with a five-man infield and two outfielders to try to cut down a run at the plate. After Rick Bell popped to third, Lopez's hard grounder to shortstop was bobbled by Adam Everett. He recovered and threw to first for a meaningless out as Chen scored the winner.