Logan Allen, Peyton Battenfield kick off 'next wave' of Guardians prospects reaching majors

CLEVELAND — When Guardians prospect Logan Allen told his parents he'd be making his major league debut, there were tears on the other end of the telephone line, as his mom began crying immediately. But when he told his brother, Hunter, that's when Allen couldn't hold back his own tears any longer.

It was Hunter, a catcher who played in college, who was always pushing Allen to be better, pushing him to improve, pushing him to keep working and grinding. The two formed their own brotherly battery, Logan pitching to Hunter.

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After Allen broke out and raced through the Guardians minor league system in 2021, his progress was slowed a bit in 2022, when he worked to find his command in Triple-A. But this week he got to make the phone call of which every minor league dreams. Allen will be on a major league mound to start Sunday's game against the Miami Marlins.

"[Hunter has] always been the one in every offseason training together, working out, catching my bullpens, pushing me, everything," Allen said. "Just kind of always been that person that's pushed me to be my best version of myself, so it was definitely special to have that moment."

Allen, ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Guardians system by Baseball America, allowed just two runs in 14⅓ innings with 20 strikeouts this season for Triple-A Columbus.

He'll be the second Guardians pitcher to make his MLB debut this season, joining Peyton Battenfield, who has allowed only two earned runs and struck out eight in 10⅔ innings.

The Guardians tied a franchise record with 17 players making their MLB debuts last season. Contributions from Steven Kwan, Oscar Gonzalez and others were instrumental in the team capturing the American League Central and then sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays in the playoffs with the youngest roster in baseball.

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One after the other, Guardians prospects have followed each other up I-71 to Cleveland.

"I think it just makes this transition a little bit easier knowing so many guys are coming in and feeling comfortable with so many guys in the locker room," Allen said. "So I think that that has definitely helped the transition. But, yeah, 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."

Guardians welcome 'next wave' of prospects to make an impact in majors, started by Peyton Battenfield and Logan Allen

And, now, a second wave of prospects is on the verge of hitting the shores of Lake Erie.

That's especially true on the pitching side. The Guardians' pitching development has arguably been baseball's best in recent memory. It has become the backbone of the organization as a whole. And despite the many pitchers to break through in recent years, a number are still lurking under the surface.

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That list includes three top-100 prospects — or top-50, depending on which scouting service you choose — Daniel Espino (when healthy), Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee, along with Allen, Battenfield, Joey Cantillo, Cody Morris (also when healthy) and others.

It isn't clear if all will be able to break through to the majors in 2023, especially Espino and Morris, but the Guardians are brimming with highly ranked pitchers on the verge of breaking down that door to Cleveland within the next year or two.

Espino, Williams and Bibee are the first-, second- and fifth-ranked prospects in the Guardians system, according to MLB Pipeline. Allen is ranked eighth. And after the Guardians were partially carried by players getting their first taste of the majors in 2022, their hope is that Allen and Battenfield are the beginning of a second group of up-and-comers to bolster the roster.

"This is kind of that next wave, the beginning of maybe that next wave that we hope can impact us and help us win," said manager Terry Francona. "I do think when kids come to the major leagues, you have to set some expectations that his first five innings aren't going to define his career. But I think there's so much to about him that it's going to be fun to watch his progression."

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Logan Allen to make MLB debut with Cleveland Guardians