Blue Springs’ Hall making most of opportunity with Kansas City Monarchs baseball team
Allante Hall was ready for the moment.
A few days earlier, the Kansas City Monarchs’ bullpen catcher heard the news everyone with his job waits for: He’d been signed to the team’s active roster. On Sunday, an injury to catcher Gavin Collins brought the Blue Springs native into the game.
Hall belted the first pitch he saw for his first professional home run.
Allante Hall having a ball and putting us in the lead with this HOMERUN!
Monarchs 3 | Saltdogs 2 | ️ 6 pic.twitter.com/2l81DQN7iN— Kansas City Monarchs (@kscitymonarchs) August 13, 2023
“My buddy (shortstop) LJ (Hatch) was like, ‘Be ready for the fastball; you’re gonna get it,’” Hall said. “I don’t know what happened. I saw the pitch, I got my foot down early and I exploded through the baseball.”
Hall had two hits in 27 plate appearances at the professional level before Sunday. His solo shot in the sixth was the deciding blow in the Monarchs’ 4-2 win over the Lincoln Saltdogs at Haymarket Park.
For Hall, the home run is some well-earned recognition for his work behind the scenes.
“I had envisioned that I would get the chance to play at some point,” Hall said. “It’s crazy how I came into the game. I’m praying for Gavin. I picked up where he left off.”
The 24-year-old didn’t always want to be a catcher. He was a shortstop as a kid. But when he was 14, his team’s catcher went down with an injury. The coach, Allante’s father, asked who wanted to step up.
No one raised a hand, so Allante agreed to try it out.
“I ended up getting back there, threw a couple runners out, and I fell in love with it,” the younger Hall said. “Ever since then I’ve been catching.”
There’s no guarantee Hall will get another shot. Manager Joe Calfapietra is constantly working to bring new talent to the first-place club. The Monarchs’ roster features eight former major-leaguers.
No matter what happens, Hall will keep working.
“I’m just doing my job,” he said. “I’m just doing whatever Joe asks for me to do. We’re just going to keep it going.”
The Monarchs hold the best record in the American Association at 46-33. They begin a seven-game homestand Tuesday night against the Sioux Falls Canaries, who have won eight in a row.
Fans can find the club’s schedule and ticket information at MonarchsBaseball.com or on the American Association app.
