'Thrown for a loop': Top prospect shares callup story

This story was excerpted from Mandy Bell’s Guardians Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Logan Allen was sitting in Triple-A Columbus manager Andy Tracy’s office.

In this moment, any player would hope and wish this meeting would result in a promotion to the big leagues. But the way Tracy was talking, it didn’t sound like this was Allen’s time.

Although the 25-year-old has worked hard to add some velocity to his fastball and his sweeper has been a weapon for him this year, he’s been known for a stellar changeup throughout his Minor League career. Tracy expressed concern about Allen’s spin rate on his changeup this season, and he explained that it might be best for his pitcher to skip his next start to put in some extra work on his repertoire.

“He kind of had me thrown for a loop for a little bit,” Allen said, with a grin.

Minutes later, Tracy gave up the act (one that he puts on for nearly every Minor Leaguer who’s on his way to the Majors) and gave Allen the news he’s been waiting to hear: You’re going to the big leagues.

Allen, the Guardians’ No. 8 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has had to fight off the urge to think too much about when this moment would arrive. He’s gotten off to a hot start in Triple-A, giving up just two runs in 14 1/3 innings with 20 strikeouts and five walks. The lefty has looked like a much different pitcher than the one who owned a 6.49 ERA in 14 starts following his promotion to Columbus last year.

With a handful of injuries to Cleveland’s starting rotation, it was only a matter of time before one of the team’s highly regarded prospects got a chance to make an impact at the big league level. But for Allen to be the one to get the first call up, he had to stay focused on what was in front of him.

“It’s definitely natural to think about it,” Allen said, “but it’s definitely important to be where your feet are.”

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Allen was rewarded for his efforts with the news that he’ll be starting in Sunday’s series finale against the Marlins. After he left Tracy’s office he immediately called his mom, who cried on the other end of line. Next, he phoned his dad, but it wasn’t until he called his older brother, Hunter, who was a catcher at Alabama State, that he began to get emotional.

“He’s always been the one every offseason training together, working out, catching my bullpens, pushing me,” Allen said. “Just kind of always been that person that’s pushing me to be the best version of myself. So, definitely special to have that moment.”

Allen’s brother and parents will be two of 15 or 20 close friends and family members who will be at Progressive Field on Sunday to watch him make his Major League debut. But it might be the number of familiar faces he has in this young clubhouse that will make him feel the most comfortable.

The Guardians had 17 players make their debuts in 2022, allowing Allen to see plenty of teammates go through this process. Many of them will be standing in the dugout with him on Sunday.

Allen was able to get to Cleveland a day before his start to get familiar with his surroundings beforehand. He asked the PR staff to help guide him to the media room, and Will Brennan, Allen's teammate through the Minors,ran in before he stepped up on the dais to give him a hug.

It’s almost as if he never left the Triple-A Columbus clubhouse.

“I think it just makes this transition a little bit easier knowing so many guys coming in and feeling comfortable with so many guys in the locker room,” Allen said. “I’m definitely excited to be on a team where so many young guys are getting opportunities to win games and to see the success that we're having and just doing our best to contribute to that.”