A second member of Tempe’s venerable Allen baseball family is picking up where onetime Seattle Mariners third baseman Jamie Allen left off.
First-team All-Pac 12 outfielder Trever Allen, who graduated from Corona del Sol High School in 2010 and then moved on to success at ASU, has been selected as the 2015 Senior CLASS Award winner in baseball, and has been drafted by the Los Angeles Angels.
Trever’s dad Jamie was drafted by the Mariners in the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft. He was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 1976 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign. During an exhibition game in 1982, as a member of the Triple-A Salt Lake City Gulls, Allen drew a walk to win the game against the Major League Seattle Mariners.
The senior Allen made his Major League debut in 1983 at the Kingdome against the Baltimore Orioles. He went one-for-four in the game. In his only big league season, ’83, Allen hit .223 with four home runs, 10 doubles and 21 RBIs in 86 games.
With his latest recognition, Jamie’s son Trever seems to be following in his dad’s footsteps.
Using an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the CLASS Award now won by Trever honors the attributes of NCAA Division I senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition.
The CLASS program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards a senior season can bring. Award winners are determined by a selection process that includes NCAA Division I college coaches in each respective sport, national media and fans.
Public fan voting on the Senior CLASS Award website takes place each year during the month leading up to the NCAA Championship.
To be eligible for the award, a student athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Said Allen:
“It’s truly an honor to receive this award; God blessed me with the ability to play baseball, and as I look back on my time spent at ASU, it’s clear that I could not have had a better experience, both on and off the field.
“The help and support I received from the staff to ensure I flourished while in school was more than I could have asked for, but the best part was the guidance they gave to help me thrive as a man. They set me up for success in more than just athletics, and I cannot thank ASU enough for its huge impact on my life.”
As a red-shirt senior, Allen graduated with a degree in interdisciplinary studies in May 2014 and began graduate-level work while completing his standout career on the baseball field.
A four-time letter-winner, the three-time All-Pac 12 honoree helped the Sun Devils to a 34-19 record while tallying a .307 career batting average and becoming just the 17th member of ASU’s 200-hit, 100-RBI, 20-HR club.
As a member of a loaded ASU squad, Allen was one of nine Sun Devils to be selected in the MLB Draft, going to the Los Angeles Angels in the 25th round. Always a threat at the plate, Allen finished his career with 230 hits, including 37 doubles, 12 triples and 22 home runs, and, in 2014, became the first Sun Devil to lead the team in home runs in consecutive seasons since Brett Wallace in 2007-08 and just the seventh in program history to do so.
“Trever’s career is marked by accountability, work ethic, leadership, a commitment to service and excellence both on the field and in the classroom,” said ASU Head Coach Tracy Smith. “His numbers on the field over the past four years speak for themselves. He is a living testament to the importance of doing things the right way and the successes that come when a young person commits themselves to a team and a purpose.”
In his five years at Arizona State, Allen made an impact that went beyond academics and athletics. Regularly involved in community activities, Allen volunteered his time in activities such as bagging food for the homeless, cleaning up trash around Tempe, helping with ASU baseball camps and installing lockers and painting benches at the school’s new baseball stadium.
Also involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at ASU, Allen served as a senior mentor for freshman student athletes, helping them learn time-management skills and adjust to collegiate life.
“We’re thrilled that Trever Allen was selected by voters to with the Senior CLASS Award this year,” said Erik Miner, executive director for the Senior CLASS Award.
“To stay in school until you graduate is rare for a standout baseball player, but Trever chose to finish both his degree and his athletic eligibility, and he did so with excellence. He’s a great representative of the award and what it stands for.”
