In 2020, Logan Allen has the chance to be the highest-drafted pitcher from Florida International University. It is not a powerhouse program but it has produced several major league players including Josh Banks and Mark Lee. Allen could be the best arm the program has produced in its history.
Allen, a left-handed pitcher, currently ranks 46th on MLB.com’s board. The Florida International southpaw is listed at six feet, 180 pounds. He was a junior before the NCAA cancelled the remainder of its baseball season. The Baltimore Orioles originally selected Allen in the 16th round of the 2017 Draft, but Allen chose to attend college and improve his draft stock.
Strengths
Allen has the classic assortment of pitches for the crafty lefty. He throws a fastball, curveball and circle changeup, with the changeup having the best grade at 55/80. The other two pitches are 50s as well. His fastball tops out around 90 mph but Allen has touched 92-93 on occasion. He makes up for his relative lack of velocity with above-average control.
Allen’s control is what keeps him on top of games. His collegiate strikeout rate is 12.1 per nine innings. He was even better this season at 14.4 per nine before games were cancelled. Overall, Allen was off to a solid junior season with a 2.45 ERA, 41 hits and just six walks in 25 2/3 innings. He did give up two home runs, one each against Fordham and Pepperdine, but he was doing a fine job limiting damage.
His best game came in a win over George Mason. Allen threw seven strong innings with no earned runs, 13 strikeouts and just one walk in a 5-2 victory. That game reflected Allen’s ability to set hitters up for certain pitches and keep them guessing at the same time.
Allen has also played some first base for FIU. It is not his strongest position but he still has a respectable .297/.362/.410 career slash line with six home runs in 259 plate appearances. It is unlikely he gets a chance to hit in the professional ranks, but he does show some solid plate discipline. The right organization might look at Allen as a part-time two-way player in the future.
Weaknesses
Allen’s velocity will be a concern for modern baseball personnel. Low-velocity lefties can succeed in the league but it is getting harder each season. He will be constantly compared to harder-throwing pitchers. He will likely be able to keep batters off-balance with his style, but they are improving all the time as well.
The absolute worst-case scenario is Allen moves to the bullpen as a fastball/changeup pitcher. Pitchers must face at least three batters after a recent rule change. This effectively eliminates the previously-used lefty specialist. Although Allen can pitch against both righties and leftie, this rule hurts a pitcher like him most of all. His MLB team will likely work on making sure his curveball develops as a third quality pitch while also seeing if they can’t add a mile or two of velocity on top of it.
MLB Comp
Lefties like Allen don’t exist as much as they used to but one good MLB comparable might be Devin Smeltzer with the Minnesota Twins. Smeltzer throws a slider as a fourth pitch but is mostly a fastball/curve/changeup pitcher who maxed out around 89 MPH according to Baseball Savant. Smeltzer is taller but matches up in terms of pitches and velocity.
Older fans might also look at former starting pitcher Brian Anderson as a great comp. Anderson retired after an elbow injury in 2008. The six foot, one inch Anderson was never a hard thrower but still pitched in over 290 games. He also helped the Arizona Diamondbacks win the 2001 World Series.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
