Lefthander Logan T. Allen Is Latest In Guardians’ Pitching Pipeline

The Guardians’ pitching assembly line continues to turn out products. Only the names change from year to year. The quality doesn’t.

The latest name to keep an eye on is lefthander Logan T. Allen, who quietly breezed through his first professional season in 2021 without hitting any speed bumps. The 23-year-old’s MLB debut could occur some time this season.

The 2020 second-rounder from Florida International is actually the second Logan Allen in the organization, joining 24-year-old Logan Allen, also a lefthander, whom Cleveland acquired from the Padres in 2019.

With no minor league season in 2020, the younger Allen made his pro debut in 2021. It was an attention-getting season.

In 21 appearances (19 starts) for High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron, Allen was 9-0, 2.26 while averaging 11.6 strikeouts and 2.1 walks per nine innings.

Allen’s stuff is more effective than electric. His fastball sits in the 92-94 mph range, and on his best days he can be virtually unhittable. In his first pro start, he pitched five one-hit innings with eight strikeouts and one walk.

His fastball location sets up everything, and allows him to leverage his plus changeup and slider. Physically, he’s not a classically-built pitcher. He stands 6 feet, 190 pounds.

But he has a chance to become the prototype crafty lefty who knows how to pitch and doesn’t shrink from the big moment.

Allen’s 2.26 ERA ranked third in the minors among pitchers with at least 100 innings.

He has plus makeup as well, and is popular in the clubhouse.