New York Mets Minor League Players - Allan Dykstra

Allan Dykstra (born May 21, 1987) is a professional baseball player in the New York Mets organization. He was the starting first baseman for Wake Forest Demon Deacons during his college career, and was drafted 23rd overall by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.

Dykstra is the son of Randy and Cathy Dykstra. He is not related to former Mets player Lenny Dykstra. Dykstra was a member of the San Diego Stars 12U team that won 1999 AAU national championships. In 2001 he played for 14U team USA at the Pan-American games in Honduras.

He played for Sam Blalock at Rancho Bernardo High School where he helped take the team to the Palomar League Championship. He was selected to the 30 man trials for 18-and-under Junior National Team in 2004 and attended the Perfect Game Western Underclass Showcase where he was rated the number two prospect. In the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft, Dykstra was drafted in the 34th round by the Boston Red Sox.

Dykstra played college baseball at Wake Forest University for coach Rick Rembielak while majoring in business. Dykstra won a multitude of awards in his freshman series including being named ACC rookie of the year and named to the ACC all-academic team. Dykstra was named freshman All-American by rivals.com, Louisville Slugger, and Baseball America. He was selected to the Dick Howser Trophy watch list and the 2006 Pepsi Baseball Classic All-tournament team. Statistically, Dykstra led the team in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, RBIs, home runs, walks, sacrifice flies and tied for the lead in starts.

In 2007, Dykstra was named to the All-ACC academic team and second team All-ACC. He was named a Golden Spikes Award finalist along with being named to the midseason watch list for the Brooks Wallace Award. Dykstra had a monster year statistically in the ACC tying for first in home runs, and ending in the top ten of walks, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, RBIs and total bases.

Dykstra hit .308/.444/.481 for the 2007 Chatham A's in the Cape Cod League. He was 8th in the league in average, third in RBI (31) and third in OBP. He made the CCL All-Star team at DH. Baseball America named him the #16 prospect in the Cape Cod League.

Dykstra was drafted 23rd overall in the 2008 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres. Dykstra signed a $1.15 million dollar contract with the Padres on August 15, 2008, just before the deadline to sign draft picks.

The Padres traded Dykstra to the New York Mets in exchange for RHP Eddie Kunz on March 29, 2011.

• Career statistics and player information from The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)