Logan Allen is on the fast track to the majors and is proving worth as a second round pick

When Logan T. Allen was taken in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft, he knew just how much the Guardians valued him.

Last season, the RubberDucks lefty showed the organization just how right it was with the pick and it shot even more confidence into an already budding prospect.

“Just understanding that my stuff will play, knowing that I’ve had success, that’s something I found out last year,” he said. “I think coming back it gave me the confidence to be a leader in the clubhouse for some of these younger players so I could help show them the ropes as best as I can.”

He’s ranked eighth in the Guardians’ farm system and is the third-highest pitching prospect behind Daniel Espino and Gavin Williams.

He’s also the top left-hander in the Cleveland system.

Last season, Allen led the High-A Central in earned run average (1.58) and wins (five) and was second in strikeouts (67), opponents’ batting average (.200) and WHIP (0.97) before being promoted from the Lake County Captains to the Ducks.

All he did in 12 appearances (10 starts) in Akron was go 4-0 with a 2.85 ERA and gave the RubberDucks a playoff-clinching win on the last day of the regular season.

He finished the season a combined 9-0 with a 2.26 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 111⅓ innings pitched.

That ERA ranked third in all of minor league baseball among pitchers who threw at least 100 innings.

Allen is more than just a southpaw

“He is the epitome of professionalism,” Ducks pitching coach Owen Dew said. “This year, he has taken on more of a leadership role after being one of the younger guys on the pitching staff. Now, he feels like he’s been here a little bit. It’s the step in the process he needs to take and it’s kind of cool to watch in the clubhouse and with the pitching staff.

“Nothing seems to speed up on him. He has such a good pulse for his game and what he’s really good at. He executes it really well every day. There’s never a moment that’s too big for him and that’s going to translate really well at the next level. He’s Mr. Consistent. You know what you’re going to get out of him.”

A solid hitter at Florida International – he batted .286 with three home runs and 18 RBIs in three seasons in college – Allen knows the ins and outs of a batter’s approach.

The 23-year-old understands that pitchers give hitters way too much credit for how hard it is to hit a baseball.

“He’s a great left-handed pitcher that is going to play one day in the big leagues,” RubberDucks manager Rouglas Odor said. “I’m glad to have Daniel Espino, but Logan has been great for us. Even though they’re young, they understand what the process is about. They’re concentrating on the moment and are doing well.”

Logan T. Allen's new pitch is nasty

This season, Allen has added a harder cutter to his arsenal, which keeps batters off the slower slider and stops them hunting for the fastball as much.

He is almost unhittable when he’s on with a 94-mph fastball, change-up and slider added to the cutter.

Allen doesn’t shrink in the moment and has picked up right where he left off.

Allen is 1-1 with 30 strikeouts 21⅓ innings this season. He pitched six innings of two-hit ball and struck out six Wednesday night against the Altoona Curve.

There’s not much left to prove at the Double A level, but Allen is focused on the here and now in terms of development.

“It’s just staying consistent and cleaning stuff up,” he said. “Working on pitch profiles, throwing a little bit harder and making stuff a little bit sharper. All in all it’s getting a better understanding of knowing how my stuff plays as a whole and getting to know myself a little better so I can use my stuff to the best of my ability.

“The really good competition we face every day helps me stay where my feet are. It’s a challenge against every guy that steps in the box. It’s nice to think about that stuff in the future, but it’s more important to help this team win games here.”

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Logan Allen's stuff will play in the majors and his stats prove it