Padres Minors: Q & A with new Padres minor league pitcher Logan Allen

Tell me about your first half season in professional baseball? Were there any coaches or players that helped you out in particular? 

It was definitely everything I expected and more. It was a lot of hard work. The strength coaches got on me immediately and started helping me improve from day one. Tom Kotchman one of the scouts that actually drafted me was helpful. Nick Green and Lance Carter were my two pitching coaches this year. I knew Lance for a while. He recruited me to go to college for him. They impacted me a lot. There was a lot of big league guys down there rehabbing and stuff like that. Brandon Workman, Brian Johnson and some other guys were there showing me professionalism. Obviously at first it was a little intimidating being out on the mound. But I was prepared. I did my thing and it all worked out because of how prepared I was.

Four and one-third inning was your longest outing this past season. Are you excited to be stretched out a bit this spring and summer?

They said they were going to baby me a little bit. I was just very happy when I got to my first short season A game. They told me they were going to extend me a little bit and the hitters were a little better. I had to make adjustments. Everyone was fouling off good pitches. I wanted to get my first pro win but was only allowed to go four and one-third. It was just too much of a pitch count at that point. So I am very excited to be on a longer leash . I want to have the ball when the game is over. Its nice going deeper because you are able to control the game rather than just going two or three innings. I am looking forward to being extended and doing my part to help the team win.

Both your grandfather and father played professional hockey. Did you play the sport and tell us a little bit about your history of hockey in the family?

I played a little bit of roller hockey and some ice when I was younger, but I was never really too much into it. My first word was ball. So I always wanted to throw the ball, hit the ball, do anything that had to do with the ball. My grandfather on my dad’s side played for a long time in the NHL for the Canadians and Bruins. He played a lot of hockey. My dad played too. He also had some professional time. He doesn’t talk about it much. My dad did it all for me. He always encouraged me to do what I wanted when it came to sports.

You were coached in 10u and 11u youth baseball by current Rockies pitching coach Darren Holmes. Talk to us about what he has meant for your career.

When I was younger it was fun. He was an Atlanta Braves, my favorite team. He really helped me, he actually got me into pitching. I never was too serious about pitching until my eighth grade or freshman year of high school. He would get me on the mound and teach me stuff. It was cool being around a big leaguer, I was close friends with his son. He is a very good guy. He would have John Smoltz and Chipper Jones come out. He made me the biggest Braves fan. He was definitely a great guy to be around. Same can be said about Donnie Suttles. He is with the Giants as a scout. He was my high school coach in North Carolina, before he got a job with the Giants. He is a great guy. He showed me a lot of stuff. He was very patient with me when I was going into my high school years. He almost recruited me to go to Tennessee Tech where he coached for a short time.

How would you describe yourself as a pitcher?

You are going to get everything from me. I am very comfortable with every one of my pitches. I throw them all for strikes. I just pound the zone. I DO NOT walk people. I rarely walk people as you can see from my stats this past year. I’m just going to go after you. It might not be the hardest stuff you’ve seen all day or I might be throwing pretty hard that day. Whatever the case may be. You are going to get strikes from me. I hold runners well. I have a fast past tempo . I like keeping hitters on their toes. I am one of those guys who is not afraid to throw a three-two curve ball. I’m very comfortable with my mechanics and my pitches. I’m just a strike thrower. I’m not afraid to throw to any hitters.

Any messages for the kids out there trying to attain their dreams of playing professional baseball?

Honestly I would tell them to just keep working hard. A lot of it is out of your control. If you get that opportunity to play college baseball and get your foot in the door, basically remember it’s really hard to get there, but even harder to stay there. There is never an excuse to get complacent or stop working. I’ll give you an example. Tyson Ross who is one of the greatest pitchers I have met personally. The day after Thanksgiving was in the weight room at Petco Park, soaked in sweat and getting after it. That’s a testament to him, he has been in the big leagues for a while. An unbelievable pitcher and he is still working as hard as ever. It’s hard to get there but even harder to stay there. That’s my best advice.

You are a right-handed hitter despite throwing left-handed. How would you describe your hitting and were you excited on the trade to a National League team?

That was one of the things I was most excited about. I love hitting. I can swing it quite a bit. I know pitchers always say they can hit but I put up pretty good numbers my junior season. I didn’t hit much my senior year because I just wanted to pitch. I’m a really good bunter. It’s something I took great pride in. Being in the National League now, I am pretty excited to pick up a bat every once in a while. Just as long as I have something to protect that left wing when I step up to the plate.

Do you have any special messages to Padres fans?

Besides thank you. The Padres fans have been very kind to me on social media and such. So was everyone in the Padres organization. I just hope to make you as happy as I am to be a member of the organization.

“It’s hard to get there, but even harder to stay there”

My last thoughts an impressions of this young man is that he will definitely put his best effort out there whenever he is on the mound. Not only does he love the game, but he has the proper mindset to focus and stay grounded. Logan Allen is going to be a prized prospect in the Padres farm system for the next few years. I feel extremely grateful for talking to him and I am confident he will surpass any and all obstacles that the game of baseball puts in front of him. With his attention to detail this southpaw will be one to be reckoned with for a long time.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.