Guardians Baseball Insider

2021 age: 23
Throws: Left
Contract: Pre-Arb
2020 stats: 3 G 10.2 IP 7K’s 3.38 ERA 1.781 WHIP

2020 in review: Allen split time between lake county taxi squad and with the tribe. He accumulated solid numbers in his 10.2 innings pitches basically all in long relief. He did not start a game in 2020. We have no major league numbers to go off of due to COVID-19.

On the mound: Considering we can go off only 38.1 innings pitched and four starts in his major league career, we must go off his minor league numbers pre-COVID. In 2018, Allen was 8th ranked prospect in a stacked San Diego Padres farm system. His fastball sits between 92-94. Allen best known for attacking strike zone and pitching inside heavily. This made him very effective in last full season of starting baseball games. Being traded and being sent up and down multiple times made Allen’s 2019 season hard to evaluate.Iin 2018 Allen made 24 starts, these numbers show the value in what Allen could provide the tribe this season: 2.54 ERA, 148.2 IP, 151 K, 1.083 WHIP. Allen was dominating the Double-A and Triple-A level for Padres less than 2 1/2 seasons ago in very hitter friendly ballparks. In addition to his fastball, Allen also features a slider, changeup and a curveball. As a prospect, his changeup graded out as his best pitch, and he didn’t allow a hit against it in 2020 and it was mildly effective in 2019 (.261 average/.348 LG). He leans on his slider heavily as his top secondary. It has average to above average spin (2537 in 2020) and has slightly above average vertical and horizontal movement. It’s also a pitch he has continued to work on to improve. His curveball. His curveball has above average spin (2735) with above average vertical movement. All of his pitches in 2019 besides his changeup didn’t fare well in his limited MLB action, but in his limited action in 2020, his secondaries all produced solid results. Batters hit just .200 and slugged .200 against the curveball.

Beyond the stats: While Logan Allen fastball spin rate is very low and his velocity is very average; he makes up with this by not walking too many batters and pounding the zone inside. He also uses all three pitches that stick will within the strike zone on a consistent basis. i believe if he could throw his 4 seam fastball a little less and rely a little bit more on his secondaries he could become even more effective. Ideally he keeps hitters off with fastballs inside and his offspeed pitches predominately low and away. His profile shows good location and average stuff.

2021 role: Logan Allen is finally going to get a long look this spring training for the rotation. He has had the hype to make a major league rotation since his days in San Diego. It has been a while since Cleveland has had a reliable LHP in the rotation, really since the days of Cliff Lee. If he can put it all together expect a crafty bottom of rotation pitcher. It will be exciting to see what Allen can do with his opportunity after basically a lost 2021 season.

Fantasy Impact: If Allen makes rotation out of camp. Expect at least 100 IP and about a strikeout a inning. In a deep league getting a bottom of rotation guy will not be worst thing. Worth maybe taking flyer. Mostly smaller leagues i would stay away.