The Orioles announced that southpaw Logan Allen has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. He’s never previously been outrighted and doesn’t have three years of big league service, so he can’t refuse the assignment. Allen will remain in the organization and try to pitch his way back onto the roster.
Baltimore just claimed Allen off waivers from the Guardians this month. He came out of the bullpen three times for skipper Brandon Hyde, allowing a pair of runs on three hits and two walks through 1 2/3 innings. After that briefest of showings, the Orioles designated him for assignment on Tuesday. This time around, the Florida native made it through waivers unclaimed. Out of minor league option years, he had to stick on an active roster or be designated for assignment.
Allen has appeared in the majors in each of the past four seasons. At one time a highly regarded pitching prospect, he’s been dealt from the Red Sox to the Padres (in the 2015 Craig Kimbrel deal) and from San Diego to Cleveland (in the 2019 deadline Trevor Bauer, Taylor Trammell three-team swap with the Reds). Allen appeared at the back of Baseball America’s top 100 prospect list the latter season, but he’s yet to find much big league success.
Over 96 1/3 career innings, he owns a 5.89 ERA with a below-average 15.5% strikeout rate. Allen has also struggled at the Triple-A level, but he’s posted quality numbers up through Double-A and has long intrigued evaluators with a four-pitch arsenal anchored by a quality changeup. He turns 25 next week, so there’s still plenty of time for Allen to pitch his way back onto an uncertain staff in Baltimore if he shows well with Norfolk.
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