Greg Allen Bio
Gregory Lomack Allen (born March 15, 1993) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Baltimore Orioles. A center fielder known for his speed and defensive range, Allen has built a journeyman career across multiple organizations since his MLB debut in 2017.
Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2014, Allen worked his way through the minor leagues before reaching the majors as a September call-up. Over the years, he has been valued for his baserunning, outfield instincts, and contact approach at the plate.
Early Life and Background
Gregory Lomack Allen was born on March 15, 1993, in Chula Vista, California. He grew up in the South Bay region of San Diego County and attended Hilltop High School in his hometown. There, he developed into a multi-sport athlete before focusing on baseball during his teenage years, showcasing the speed and athleticism that would later define his professional profile.
After high school, Allen enrolled at San Diego State University, where he played three seasons of college baseball for the San Diego State Aztecs. During the summer of 2013, he expanded his experience by playing collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the premier amateur leagues in the country. His time on the Cape helped him sharpen his skills against top competition and boosted his visibility heading into the 2014 MLB draft.
Path to Baseball
Allen’s combination of speed, defense, and on-base ability made him an attractive prospect for MLB clubs. Following his junior season at San Diego State, the Cleveland Indians selected him in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB draft. He signed with Cleveland and was assigned to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, where he spent his first professional season, batting .244 with 19 runs batted in and 30 stolen bases in 57 games.
Over the next two seasons, Allen advanced through Cleveland’s farm system, playing for the Lake County Captains, Lynchburg Hillcats, and Akron RubberDucks. He demonstrated consistent basestealing ability and a strong batting eye, posting an .830 OPS across two levels in 2016. The Indians then sent him to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League to continue his development before the 2017 season.
Greg Allen Career
Early Career (2014-2016)
Allen’s first three professional seasons were spent entirely in the minor leagues, where he steadily climbed through Cleveland’s developmental ranks. In 2015, he played for the Lake County Captains and slashed .273/.368/.382 with seven home runs, 45 RBIs, and 43 stolen bases in 123 games, establishing himself as a stolen-base threat. He also appeared in three games for the Lynchburg Hillcats at the end of that year.
In 2016, Allen split the year between Lynchburg and the Akron RubberDucks, combining to bat .295 with seven home runs, 44 RBIs, and 45 stolen bases over 129 games. Following the season, Cleveland assigned him to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League, and he was briefly reported to be part of a trade package for Jonathan Lucroy, though that deal fell apart after Lucroy declined to waive his no-trade clause.
Cleveland Indians (2017-2019)
Allen began the 2017 season with Akron and was promoted to the major leagues by the Indians on September 1, 2017. In 71 games for Akron prior to his call-up, he was batting .264 with two home runs, 24 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases. On September 7, 2017, Allen hit his first MLB home run, announcing his arrival in the big leagues.
Allen returned to the majors in 2018 and produced several memorable moments. On May 27, 2018, he hit his first major league walk-off home run against the Houston Astros in the 14th inning. Later that season, on September 23, he delivered a walk-off base hit in the 11th inning against the Boston Red Sox. He finished 2018 with a .257 batting average and 21 stolen bases, cementing his role as a speed-and-defense specialist for Cleveland.
San Diego Padres (2020)
On August 31, 2020, the Indians traded Allen, along with Mike Clevinger and Matt Waldron, to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Austin Hedges, Josh Naylor, Cal Quantrill, and several minor league players. The trade was part of Cleveland’s larger roster reshuffling that season. Allen appeared in just one game for San Diego before being optioned to the team’s alternate training site.
On December 31, 2020, the Padres designated Allen for assignment following the signing of Ha-seong Kim, ending his brief tenure with the organization.
New York Yankees First Stint (2021)
On January 6, 2021, the Padres traded Allen to the New York Yankees in exchange for pitcher James Reeves. Shortly afterward, the Yankees designated him for assignment, but he was outrighted and invited to spring training as a non-roster invitee. He was assigned to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders to begin the season.
When the Yankees were hit by a COVID-19 outbreak in July 2021, the team selected Allen to the major leagues on July 16. He played in 15 games for New York, hitting .270 with no home runs and two RBIs before being returned to Triple-A. The Yankees added him to their roster for the 2021 American League Wild Card Game, giving him a postseason appearance during his first stint in pinstripes.
Pittsburgh Pirates (2022)
On November 5, 2021, Allen was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He suffered a left hamstring strain early in 2022 spring training and was placed on the 60-day injured list in early April. He was activated on July 22 and returned to the field later that summer. On September 26, 2022, the Pirates designated him for assignment, and after clearing waivers he was sent outright to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians on September 29. Allen elected free agency following the season on October 6, 2022.
New York Yankees Second Stint (2023)
On January 11, 2023, Allen signed a minor-league contract with the Boston Red Sox and was assigned to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, where he played 37 games and batted .250/.407/.388 with 2 home runs, 15 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases. On May 19, 2023, the Red Sox traded him back to the Yankees in exchange for minor-league pitcher Diego Hernández and cash considerations, marking his second stint in New York.
Allen was selected to the Yankees’ active roster the next day after Aaron Hicks was designated for assignment. A right hip flexor strain sidelined him for six-to-eight weeks in June, but he was activated on July 23. In 22 games for New York, he hit .217/.333/.478 with one home run, one RBI, and three stolen bases before being designated for assignment on August 22. Two days later, Allen elected free agency.
Milwaukee Brewers and Yankees Third Stint (2023-2024)
On August 31, 2023, Allen signed a minor-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers organization and was assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. In eight games, he went 7-for-32 with one RBI and three stolen bases before being released on September 17, 2023.
On January 30, 2024, Allen signed a new minor-league contract with the Yankees, returning to the organization for a third time. In 61 appearances split between the Double-A Somerset Patriots and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, he slashed .223/.335/.351 with three home runs, 22 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 4, 2024.
Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles (2025)
On February 21, 2025, Allen signed a minor-league contract with the Chicago Cubs. In 32 appearances for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, he batted .312/.425/.473 with two home runs, 14 RBIs, and five stolen bases. The Cubs released him on June 3, 2025, but he re-signed with Chicago on a new minor-league deal on June 10. He was released a second time on August 4, 2025.
On August 8, 2025, Allen signed a major-league contract with the Baltimore Orioles. In seven appearances for Baltimore, he went 0-for-14 with one run scored before being designated for assignment on August 16. On August 19, 2025, Allen declined an outright assignment to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides and elected free agency, returning to the open market.
Driving Style and Strengths
Allen’s game has always been built around speed, contact, and outfield defense rather than power. He has consistently been among the stolen-base leaders at every minor-league level, and his range in center field has been a calling card. As a hitter, he works counts, draws walks, and uses his legs to pressure defenses, making him a valuable fourth-outfielder type for contenders seeking late-inning speed.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Allen’s most memorable moments were his 14th-inning walk-off home run against the Houston Astros on May 27, 2018, and his walk-off single against the Boston Red Sox on September 23, 2018. He also appeared in the 2021 American League Wild Card Game with the Yankees and made his MLB debut as a September call-up with Cleveland in 2017, hitting his first big-league home run on September 7 of that year.
Greg Allen Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Gregory Lomack Allen was raised in Chula Vista, California, where he attended Hilltop High School before continuing his baseball career at San Diego State University. Publicly available details about his immediate family and personal life are limited, and Allen has largely kept those matters out of the spotlight throughout his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Allen’s 2025 campaign was a study in resilience, as he moved between three different organizations across the year. He opened the season with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, where he was one of the team’s most productive hitters, batting .312/.425/.473 with two home runs, 14 RBIs, and five stolen bases in 32 appearances. Despite that strong production, he was released by Chicago in early June before quickly re-signing with the Cubs on a new minor-league deal.
After a second release from the Cubs organization on August 4, Allen drew major-league interest from the Baltimore Orioles and signed a big-league contract on August 8. His time in Baltimore was brief, as he went 0-for-14 in seven appearances before being designated for assignment on August 16. He declined an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk on August 19 and elected free agency, once again testing the open market heading into the offseason.
Looking ahead, Allen’s combination of outfield defense, baserunning, and minor-league offensive production suggests he remains a viable depth option for teams seeking a veteran speed-and-defense specialist. His 2025 minor-league numbers with Iowa demonstrated that he still has the bat to contribute at the Triple-A level, and his postseason experience with the 2021 Yankees adds to his resume as a potential late-season addition for a contender.