RenoAces.com Interview with Brandon Allen
In the second installment of our series, we talked with Brandon about playing in Reno, making his big league debut and what exactly makes for the perfect walk-up song.
Reno Aces: You had the opportunity to play at the brand-new Aces Ballpark. What were your impressions of the facility?
Brandon Allen: Playing in the new ballpark was great. The weather was very nice and I believe it's a great region to play in. I've played on the muggy East Coast my whole career. Something that stood out was the "Baseball" coming out of the speakers (singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch). That was pretty entertaining.
RA: In your short stay in Reno, the fans came to know you quickly and loved your power at the plate. What did you think of the Reno fans?
BA: The fans in Reno were awesome! They understood the game, and I loved the way they supported us (especially the Trent Oeltjen section, haha). They even treated my family with courtesy when they visited me. That's great sportsmanship.
RA: Take us through the moment you found out you were being promoted to the big leagues?
BA: When I got the news of my promotion, I was in shock. Bugsy (manager Brett Butler) called me into his office and gave me the news. The excitement hit harder when I was informed that I would playing my first game in Texas.
RA: What was it like making your Major League debut in Houston, near your hometown?
BA: Making my debut in Houston was crazy. Family and friends watching me make debut live, I couldn't ask for anything better, besides a World Series ring.
RA: Did you or the team have any superstitions last season?
BA: Haha, really no superstitions for me. Just go out and have fun. I played with four different teams last summer, and I can't really recall any.
RA: What do you think about when you're choosing your walk-up song?
BA: For me, a walk out song needs to have a good, catchy beat. Some people might know the song or might not. But I like to pick one that appeals to the fans, and gets them into the game.
RA: You hit a home run in the Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Showcase. What was that moment like for you?
BA: The Rising Stars game was fun. Getting to face some of the top players around was a great experience. The home run I hit felt great, but I just wish we could've won it. But overall it was fun.
RA: How would you describe last season for you personally? You switched organizations, switched leagues, then went to the big leagues.
BA: Well, it was a long summer for me. Birmingham, Charlotte, Reno, Arizona, and all of the road trips made for a busy year. But I enjoyed the travels and got to play baseball on the West Coast for the first time. So the trade, all-in-all, was great for me.
RA: What kind of goals will you set for yourself this season?
BA: The goals for this upcoming season are to be a better all around player. And hopefully become an established big leaguer someday.
Next week we'll talk with catcher John Hester, who had a breakout season in his first stint at the Triple-A level, ultimately earning a call-up to the Major Leagues. You can send in your questions for John by:
1. Posting to the RenoAces.com message board
2. Becoming a friend of the Reno Aces on Facebook
3. Submitting questions on Twitter (be sure to either address them to @Aceball, or tag them with #aceball)
4. Sending an e-mail to
[email protected]