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5 things to know about Taylor Trammell and Logan Allen

Gerard Gilberto
Updated

The San Diego Padres landed outfield prospect Taylor Trammell on Tuesday night as part of the three-team trade that sent Trevor Bauer to the Cincinnati Reds and Yasiel Puig, Franmil Reyes and Logan Allen to the Cleveland Indians. The Indians also received minor league left-hander Scott Moss from Cincinnati and third baseman Victor Nova from San Diego. Here are five things worth knowing about Trammell and Allen.

Trammell, Allen slot near the top of their new systems

Most evaluators consider Trammell a surefire big leaguer. From the Padres standpoint, their farm system is so deep that they could basically follow the formula of a major league trade. They dealt from an area of depth to fill a need, but all within the same minor league system. They also got something of an upgrade in the process. Trammell should slot in behind left-hander MacKenzie Gore as the Padres’ top minor leaguer — infielder Luis Urias probably ranks ahead of Trammell but has been up and down from San Diego to Triple-A El Paso. Starting with Gore, San Diego still has six coveted pitching prospects remaining, three of which are already with the major league club. The Indians have time to let Allen continue to develop into a starter with Danny Salazar off the injured list and Corey Kluber also nearing a return. He’s struggled in four appearances out of the bullpen in the majors but can easily slide into that role in Cleveland. Allen should become the Indians’ second-best pitching prospect behind right-hander Triston McKenzie.

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 07: Taylor Trammell #7 of the National League Futures Team singles in the fourth inning during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Progressive Field on Sunday, July 7, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Taylor Trammell has participated in each of the past two Futures Games. (Getty Images)

Trammell is better than his 2019 numbers

Since the tail end of the 2018 season, luck has not been on Trammell’s side. He suffered a concussion in August and was sidelined by a rolled ankle to finish the year. The 21-year-old also missed some time this year with a hamstring injury. He’s still a .273 career hitter in the minor leagues despite his .236 average with Double-A Chattanooga this season. He’s drawing walks at a higher rate than 2018 and is two homers shy of his previous season total in 79 fewer at-bats. Trammell is also young enough that 2019 could have been his third season at Georgia Tech had he decided not to forgo his commitment -- which could have included some time on the gridiron — after being selected No. 35 overall in 2016.

Athletic enough for center, will probably stick in left

The Powder Springs, Georgia, native was recruited to be a running back for the Yellow Jackets. Needless to say, the speed tool is well above average. The hit, power and field tools are also impressive. The only knock on Trammell has been his arm strength, which has kept him in left field for all but one of his 92 games in Chattanooga this season. He’s played nearly three times as many games in left than in center throughout his minors career and is likely to join a team in Amarillo that features his 2018 Futures Game teammate Buddy Reed.

Futures Game darling

The consensus top-50 overall prospect has participated in the past two Futures Games — the annual showcase of the game’s best prospects to kick off All-Star festivities. Trammell homered and tripled to take home MVP honors last season in 2018 at Nationals Park in Washington. He had an eventful afternoon at Progressive Field in Cleveland earlier this month. Trammell contributed an RBI single and was eventually caught trying to swipe home — though he appeared to be safe on the replay. There’s clearly no aversion to the big stage and that athleticism can be entertaining.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Logan Allen (54) pitches against the Miami Marlins in the second inning of a baseball game at Marlins Park in Miami on Tuesday, July 16, 2019. (MATIAS J. OCNER/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images)
Rookie pitcher Logan Allen has struggled since his MLB debut in June. (Getty Images)

Allen won a $1 bet with John Cena

The left-hander and the professional wrestler/actor met at a steakhouse in Florida two years ago, and the pair made a small wager as a motivational tactic. Cena paid up when Allen debut with seven scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 18. It’s been a struggle for Allen since. He was 1-3 with a 9.33 ERA in seven appearances, three of which were starts. This is the second time that Allen, a Red Sox 2015 eighth-rounder, has been traded. He landed in San Diego as part of the Craig Kimbrel trade later that year. His 92-94-mph fastball has one of the lower spin rates in the league but his changeup is a big swing and miss pitch.

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