Logan Allen’s return to the big leagues was nothing short of brutal.
The 25-year-old lefty rejoined the Cleveland Guardians’ starting rotation on Monday after a stint in the minor leagues, and his outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks got off to a rocky start.
Allen began the game by surrendering back-to-back home runs, and things quickly went from bad to worse. Following a single, he managed to get a double play, but then disaster struck. On a 1-0 sweeper, Randal Grichuk hit a line drive that struck Allen on the side of his head at 105 mph.
The impact was violent and alarming.
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However, it appeared that Allen managed to get his left hand up just in time to deflect the ball slightly before it made full contact with his skull. Remarkably, Allen was able to stay in the game and limited the damage, escaping the first inning with only a 2-0 deficit.
Despite the rough start, Allen showed resilience. He entered the game with an 8-4 record in 18 starts, but his season stats reflect the challenges he has faced: a 5.67 ERA, a WHIP of 1.55, 76 strikeouts, 35 walks, and 100 hits allowed in 87 1/3 innings. These struggles were the reason for his recent assignment to Triple-A Columbus for three starts.
Allen’s return to Major League Baseball was far from ideal, but his determination to stay in the game after such a frightening incident is commendable. Here’s hoping he is okay and can bounce back from this challenging season.
