Lots of sad faces from Gamecock fans here due to Logan Allen signing. In the Columbia paper pre-draft:
Holbrook expects to lose Neidert. He’s hoping it balances out with another coveted prospect, 6-foot-3 lefty Logan Allen, keeping his commitment.
“He’s one we’re trying very hard to keep,” Holbrook said. “He’s a critical part of our class.”
Allen could be the answer to who replaces Wynkoop. From North Carolina by way of Florida’s IMG Academy, Allen has dominated his competition.
4 pitches, touches 93.
Another pre-draft fun nugget from Logan:
My favorite player is a guy named Jon Lester, he plays for the Chicago Cubs," Allen told HNGN in an exclusive interview. "He's always been my favorite. He's definitely a guy I look up to and a pitcher I want to be like."
Back in 2002, Lester, standing at 6' 2", 190 lbs., had already committed to Arizona State University, but the Boston Red Sox swooped in when the time was right. After taking him 57th overall (16th in the second round), Boston offered Lester a $1 million signing bonus and he forwent college to begin his career in the Red Sox's farm system.
Allen, standing at 6' 3", 200 lbs., committed to the University of South Carolina, but if he gets taken in a favorable spot in this year's draft he's likely to forgo his college years and begin his career as a professional baseball player. In fact, the Red Sox even see a little Lester in Allen ... actually, maybe a lot.
"The Red Sox are one of the teams talking to me now and they don't call me by my name - they always call me Lester," he said.
"We both even kind of have the same face. When I wore a hat at the East Coast Pro Showcase a lot of the guys were making jokes because I literally looked just like him."