Former Jayhawk Allman Signs with Cleveland

June 10, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Former Kansas outfielder John Allman has signed a professional contract with the Cleveland Indians’ organization. Allman becomes the second Jayhawk outfielder in as many years to ink a deal with the Cleveland organization, and will likely join Brock Simpson in the Indians’ minor league system.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

“I am absolutely thrilled for John,” Kansas head coach Ritch Price said. “He has been one of the best players to ever play at KU and has worked extremely hard to get there. We’re all very excited that he gets to chase his dream of playing professional baseball.”

Allman, an All-Big 12 honoree the past three seasons, led the Jayhawks with a .365 batting average and a .484 on-base percentage. He clubbed 17 doubles and six homers while driving in 49 runs in 2008. The St. Louis, Mo., native finishes his KU career with a .344 average, 55 doubles, 17 homers and 159 RBIs. His 55 doubles rank fifth all-time at KU, while he is sixth in RBIs and eighth in runs scored (165).

He also played a solid left field all four years of his <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas career, collecting 13 outfield assists and committing just seven errors in 340 chances.

Allman was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in each of the last two years, and became the first Kansas player since 2006 to be honored with the Big 12’s Player of the Week award on the week of May 5.

Five of Allman’s teammates, Sam Freeman (St. Louis), Ryne Price (San Francisco), Nick Czyz (Seattle), Andres Esquibel (Seattle) and Erik Morrison (Texas) were drafted last Friday in the MLB first-year player draft.