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Logan Allen is our No. 14 Cleveland Indians prospect. Who should be No. 15?

With a dominant 51% of the vote, newcomer to the system Logan Allen is our No. 14 prospect

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Boston Red Sox v Cleveland Indians Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images

Edging out everyone else by a large margin, Logan Allen has snuck his way into the top 15 Indians prospects for 2020 at No. 14.

The 22-year-old lefty came over as part of last year’s Trevor Bauer deal. He had a rough series of starts in the Indians system with a 7.66 ERA in his five starts over 22.1 innings pitched, but the Indians gave him a look at the majors. He struck out three of the nine batters he faced in 2.1 innings of shutout work against the team that originally drafted him, the Boston Red Sox.

MLB Pipeline currently ranks Allen as the Indians’ fourth overall prospect, but those rankings are due to be updated any day now so he’ll likely drop. Still, with the potential for four pitches (fastball, changeup, slider, curveball) including a plus curveball and a painful-looking but effective changeup dubbed a “Vulcan” changeup, he has a future in the majors.

Allen fancies himself as a relentless pitcher, not relying on physical gifts or a blazing fastball to make his way to the majors. Similar, you could say, to the player the Indians traded for him. As he told FanGraphs prior to last season:

It’s the way I’ve always been wired.. I’ve never been that guy who throws 100 mph. I’ve never been that guy who was the freakiest athlete. I’ve always had pretty good stuff, but I think my success is really more about the way I’ve handled myself on the field, with conviction and intent. I don’t believe in giving in.

John Cena (yes, that John Cena) backs up Allen’s belief in himself. Talking about their chance encounter in which he bet Allen $1 that he would make the majors, Cena had nothing but praise for the tenacious pitcher.

“If it can be a nice fuel in the back of the fire of Logan’s head to be like, ‘You know what? Eff that John Cena. I’m going to make him pay me that buck and I’m going to stuff it down his effing throat’ — that, to me, is just great,” Cena says. “He is the type of guy who, at the end of the night, when you’re shaking hands, you walk away and say, ‘Man, I really hope that kid makes it.’ Because he’s a bright, wonderful young man with a great head on his shoulders who has a genuine gift, realizes he has a gift, and you want to see nothing but good things happen for somebody like that.”

If he can get a few consistent games under his belt in Triple-A, maybe we’ll get an extended look at that bulldog mentality in the majors this year. Until then, he has a well-earned spot on our top prospect list.


Will Benson, OF (Age 21)

2019 (A): 259 PA, .272/.371/.604, 18 HR, 18 SB, 14.3 BB%, 30.1 K%, 172 wRC+

2019 (A+): 255 PA, .189/.290/.304, 4 HR, 9 SB, 12.2 BB%, 28.6 K%, 75 wRC+

Former 1st round pick dominated in his repeat stint at Lake County in 2019, one of only two MiLB players in 2019 to have a 20 HR, 20 SB season (besides Luis Robert). Struggled after midseason promotion, but did post career-low K% at High-A.

Bobby Bradley, 1B (Age 23)

2019 (AAA): 283 PA, .264/.344/.567, 33 HR, 0 SB, 10.2 BB%, 33.8 K%, 125 wRC+

2019 (MLB): 84 PA, .178/.245/.356, 1 HR, 0 SB, 8.2 BB%, 40.8 K%, 51 wRC+

A career best 33 home runs at Triple-A earned the slugging first baseman his first cup of coffee with the Indians. He hit the hardest home run for the Tribe in the statcast era, but also whiffed in 40% of his at bats. Will need to cut down on the Ks if he wants to stay in the show.

Yu Chang, SS (Age 24)

2019 (AAA): 453 PA, .253/.322/.427, 9 HR, 0 SB, 9.2 BB%, 23.7 K%, 88 wRC+

2019 (MLB): 49 PA, .178/.286/.274, 1 HR, 0 SB, 13.1 BB%, 26.2 K%, 50 wRC+

Slowed by injuries in 2019, but made his MLB debut and showcased improved patience against MLB pitchers. Potential full-time utility candidate for the 2020 season with room to grow.

Bryan Lavistada, C (Age 21)

2019 (A-): 240 PA, .335/.408/.483, 2 HR, 3 SB, 10.4 BB%, 11.3 K%, 165 wRC+

2019 (A-): 4 PA, .333/.500/.333, 0 HR, 0 SB, 25.0 BB%, 25.0 K%, 162 wRC+

Converted catcher drafted in the 15th round in 2018 has done nothing but impress both offensively and defensively since making his pro debut. Also threw out 35% of would-be basestealers in 2019.

Angel Martinez, SS (Age 17)

2019 (DSL): 261 PA, .306/.402/.428, 1 HR, 11 SB, 11.1 BB%, 11.1 K%, 134 wRC+

One of the top Indians international signings from 2018, Martinez was the top performer of Tribe DSL players in 2019, showcasing patience at the plate and speed on the basepaths.

Eli Morgan, RHP (Age 23)

2019 (A+): 6 GS, 33.2 IP, 32.8 K%, 4.1 BB%, 1.87 ERA, 2.70 FIP

2019 (AA): 18 GS, 102.0 IP, 24.1 K%, 7.26 BB%, 3.79 ERA, 3.75 FIP

2019 (AAA): 1 GS, 5.0 IP, 9.1 K%, 9.1 BB%, 5.40 ERA, 4.62 FIP

Morgan’s excellent control combined with the best changeup in the Tribe system allowed him to advance three levels in the 2019 season despite a lack of elite velocity. Morgan started extremely strong both in High-A and Double-A, but tailed off as the season wore on.

Luis Oviedo, RHP, (Age 20)

2019 (A): 19 GS, 87.0 IP, 19.0%, 10.5 BB%, 5.38 ERA, 4.41 FIP

Started a career-high 19 games in Single-A last season, but struggled with walks and a lowered strikeout rate. Features one of the best changeups in the Indians system.

Nick Sandlin, RHP (Age 23)

2019 (AA): 15 G, 17.1 IP, 36.0 K%, 10.7 BB%, 1.56 ERA, 3.46 FIP

2019 (AAA): 9 G, 9.0 IP, 29.7 K%, 18.9 BB%, 4.00 ERA, 6.40 FIP

Sidearm-throwing reliever taken in the 2nd round of the 2018 MLB draft. Likely would have made it to the Indians if not for a pair of 2019 injuries, which slowed his ascent through the system.

Ka’ai Tom, OF (Age 25)

2019 (AA): 343 PA, .285/.386/.512, 14 HR, 3 SB, 12.5 BB%, 21.3 K%, 162 wRC+

2019 (AAA): 211 PA, .298/.370/.564, 9 HR, 2 SB, 10.0 BB%, 25.1 K%, 132 wRC+

Breakout 2019 season saw him dominate offensively at both Double-A and Triple-A, nearly doubling his previous career best in home runs. One of few MiLB players with double digit HR, triples and doubles in 2019 (23, 10, 25).

Lenny Torres, RHP (Age 19)

2019 —

Entered 2019 with huge expectations after dominant pro debut as 2018 1st round competitive balance pick, but underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire season. Is throwing off the mound and expected to return this season.

Poll

Who should be the No. 15 Indians prospect

This poll is closed

  • 7%
    Will Benson
    (20 votes)
  • 35%
    Bobby Bradley
    (98 votes)
  • 4%
    Yu Chang
    (13 votes)
  • 2%
    Bryan Lavistada
    (8 votes)
  • 6%
    Angel Martinez
    (17 votes)
  • 8%
    Eli Morgan
    (24 votes)
  • 1%
    Luis Oviedo
    (5 votes)
  • 6%
    Nick Sandlin
    (19 votes)
  • 16%
    Ka’ai Tom
    (46 votes)
  • 10%
    Lenny Torres
    (30 votes)
280 votes total Vote Now