Allen excited to represent Panama, honor mom in Classic

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GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The only person perhaps more excited that Logan Allen is participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic than the Guardians lefty himself is his mother Pam.

“She's pumped,” Allen said.

Allen will pitch in the Classic for Panama, which is his mother’s birthplace. It’s something that has been on his radar since the 2023 edition of the tournament, and one that carries tremendous meaning to the Allen family.

While Allen is a Florida native, Pam is from Colón, Panama, which is located near the Caribbean end of the Panama Canal. She grew up in the country before heading to the United States during her 20s.

Allen still has a lot of extended family in Panama, and he’s expecting many of them to come out to watch him pitch in the Classic. Panama is in Pool A (alongside Canada, Colombia, Cuba and Puerto Rico) and will play its first-round games in San Juan from March 6-11.

“[Panama] playing in Puerto Rico makes the travel a little bit easier for the family,” Allen said. “I’m really excited. It should be a lot of fun.”

Also unique for Allen is having three-time MLB All-Star Carlos Lee, whom he grew up watching, as Panama’s hitting coach.

Allen had interest in pitching in the Classic in 2023, when he was a Guardians non-roster invitee during Spring Training. But he was still trying to establish himself in the Major Leagues and had yet to make his MLB debut, which eventually came on April 23 of that season.

“I feel like now that I'm a little bit more established, it's a little bit of a better time to take this opportunity,” said Allen, who’s made 74 appearances (73 starts) for Cleveland the past three seasons.

With the Classic taking place during Spring Training, Allen had some change within his preparation for the regular season. He arrived at camp sooner than previous years, and started his throwing progression before heading to Arizona.

The Guardians’ Cactus League opener is on Saturday, so Allen (who’s part of Cleveland’s starting rotation competition this spring) could make one or two starts before leaving to join Panama, and then stay on a five- or six-day routine during the tournament. Players cannot throw more than 65 pitches during the first round of the Classic. Cleveland will build up Allen as close and appropriately to that figure as possible.

Allen is among nine players in the Guardians' organization who will be playing in the Classic, in a group that also includes Travis Bazzana (Cleveland’s No. 1 prospect and No. 20 overall, per MLB Pipeline), who will be playing for Australia, and big leaguers Bo Naylor (Canada) and Matt Festa (Italy). Allen will see Naylor on March 8, when Panama and Canada square off.

If Allen takes the mound against Canada, it could mark one of his first (if not the first) matchups with Naylor. Teammates square off during Spring Training in live batting practice sessions, but catchers are often behind the plate, not in the batter’s box. Allen said he would enjoy facing his battery mate.

“For sure. I’d probably just throw him heaters, let him feel good. Maybe run one up under his chin,” Allen joked, while laughing. “It’s going to be really cool.”

The top two teams in each of the four pools of the Classic will move on to the quarterfinals. Pool A has some stiff competition, but Allen is hopeful about Panama’s chances to advance. Overall, he’s looking forward to playing in one of the sport’s best environments while representing his family heritage.

“I should have quite a bit of that side of the family showing up, so that'll be fun,” Allen said. “My mom, aunt, my cousins on that side. It should be really cool. I'm excited.”