GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- During an intrasquad scrimmage on Thursday afternoon at the Reds player development complex, shortstop prospect Elly De La Cruz hit a booming drive to center field. Outfield prospect Jay Allen tracked the ball to the wall and although it appeared to have grazed the batter’s eye first, Allen made an impressive leaping catch.

It was ruled an out by instructor Corky Miller, the lone “umpire” on the field, but the outcome of the play didn’t matter so much in the big picture. While De La Cruz flexed his superlative power potential, Allen’s athleticism and ability showed what he is capable of as well.

“I want to show [that] I can be impactful on the defensive side. I know I have good range, and everybody says [that] I have good range, but I want to show it a little more,” said Allen after the scrimmage on the final day of early Minor League camp.

Allen, 19, is ranked by MLB Pipeline as Cincinnati’s No. 5 prospect. Although he had a commitment to play for the University of Florida, he was a first-round compensation pick (30th overall) by the organization in the 2021 MLB Draft, eschewing college by signing for $2.397 million.

A three-sport star in baseball, football and basketball at John Carroll Catholic High School in Fort Pierce, Fla., Allen estimated he received about 15 college scholarship offers where he could play both quarterback in football and center field in baseball.

“It was everything I could have dreamed of, but things work out and I was put in this position for a reason, I believe,” Allen said. “I really thought about it with all the Drafts and pre-Draft boards. I was looking at longevity. That’s the word I really used. What can benefit me in the long run and be safer for me? It’s not [the] wear and tear on my body so much. I’d rather hit a baseball than get hit all the time [in football]. I’m sure baseball is the right path for me.”

During his first pro season last year in the Arizona Complex League, Allen batted .328 with a .997 OPS, belting three home runs and adding 11 RBIs to go along with 14 steals in 19 games. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitter impressed with his swing, power potential and, of course, his pure athleticism.

But there was still some rawness to Allen’s game.

“Jay still has a lot of high school tendencies, which is normal,” said Eric Davis, the Reds special assistant to the general manager for player performance. “He still runs high school-ish and throws high school-ish, but his talent is enormous. You’re talking about a three-sport talent in high school. I probably looked high school-ish when I came out of high school.

“First training camp, you just look for him to be competitive. His maturity, you’ll start to see the game slow down for him, his footwork to slow down and more methodical movements to what he does. That’s when you’ll know he’s starting to mature and letting the game come to him. Right now, the game is still fast and that’s normal.”

Allen has liked working with Davis, the former great center fielder, a two-time All-Star and member of the 1990 World Series winning team.

“He always brings energy. He’s a role model, for sure,” Allen said. “He’s a guy I look up to. He’s one of the greatest center fielders to ever do it. In a way, I want to follow what he did up there. I’m sure learning from him and everything will put me on the right step.”

Allen is expected to open the 2022 season at Low-A Daytona. Besides showing more on defense, he wants to take steps forward offensively as well.

“On the approach side, I want to be able to hit when I am behind in the count and overcome a guy who isn’t going to give me anything good and just throw his best stuff at me,” Allen said. “Approach and defense is what I am really working on.”

Davis believed this year will be big for Allen in advancing his development.

“You only get that when you leave the nest,” Davis remarked. “He was here last year. Hopefully, we can get him to Daytona, getting him away from home and the complex. That’s when the clock really starts for me -- when they leave the complex and start to travel on the buses, getting a neck cramp from sleeping and all the things Minor League baseball provides.”

Daytona isn’t too far from Allen’s hometown of Fort Pierce, which will still allow family and friends to watch him play.

“The only place I’ve known in pro baseball is here,” Allen said. “Going somewhere else will better me. Seeing the other competition and all the guys letting loose and doing their own thing will be good for me. I’m really excited for that.”