Cody Allen

Cody Edward Allen (born November 20, 1988) is an American professional baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians from 2012 to 2018 and the Los Angeles Angels in 2019.

Cody Allen
Allen with the Cleveland Indians
Free agent
Relief pitcher
Born: (1988-11-20) November 20, 1988
Orlando, Florida
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 20, 2012, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
(through June 14, 2019)
Win–loss record24–31
Earned run average3.14
Strikeouts593
Saves153
Teams

Amateur career

Allen is the son of Craig and Billie Allen.[1] He played high school baseball and was the quarterback on the football team at William R. Boone High School in Orlando, Florida. He played college baseball for the University of Central Florida, St. Petersburg College, and High Point University.[2] The Cleveland Indians selected him in the 16th round of the 2010 MLB draft, but he opted not to sign.[3]

Professional career

Minor leagues

The Indians selected Allen in the 23rd round of the 2011 MLB draft.[4] Allen signed with Cleveland and spent 2011 with four teams in the Indians' farm system, but spent the majority of the season with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League, pitching to a 3–1 win-loss record with a 2.14 earned run average (ERA) in 14 games. Between the four teams, he was 5-1 with a 1.65 ERA, and 75 strikeouts in 54.2 innings, averaging 12.3 strikeouts per 9 innings.[5]

The following year he spent most of the season with the Columbus Clippers of the Class AAA International League, going 3–2 with a 2.27 ERA in 24 games. Pitching for three minor league teams, he was 3-2 with three saves and a 1.87 ERA, and 53 strikeouts in 43.1 innings, averaging 11.0 strikeouts per 9 innings.[5] He was named the Cleveland Indians' Minor League Pitcher of the Year after the season.[6] After the 2012 season Baseball America ranked him the 5th-best prospect and best curveball in the Indians organization, and the 13th best-prospect in the International League.[7]

Cleveland Indians

On July 20, 2012, Allen made his Major League debut for the Cleveland Indians after being called up from Columbus[8] He pitched an inning of relief giving up two walks, no runs, no hits, and one strikeout.[9] He struck out Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds for his first career strikeout.

In 2013, Allen went 6–1 with a 2.43 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 70.1 innings, averaging 11.3 strikeouts per 9 innings.[10] His 77 games pitched was second in the American League, trailing only Joel Peralta's 80 (and 2nd all-time for any Indians pitcher), and he was 2nd in the league in errors committed by a pitcher (3), and 8th in wild pitches (9).[10][11] He tied for 6th in the 2013 BBWAA AL Rookie of the Year voting.[7]

After multiple struggles by closer John Axford early in the 2014 season, Allen was moved into the closer role.[12] Allen finished the season with 76 appearances (again 2nd in the American League; tied for 4th all-time for any Indians pitcher), a 6–4 record with a 2.07 ERA, 91 strikeouts (8th-most in a single-season by an Indians reliever), and 24 saves (9th) in ​69 2⁄3 innings, averaging 11.8 strikeouts per 9 innings.[10][7][11]

For the 2015 season, Allen pitched in 70 games (8th in the AL), leading the American League with 58 games finished, while recording 34 saves (6th), 99 strikeouts (2nd among AL relievers), and a 2.99 ERA in ​69 1⁄3 innings, averaging 12.9 strikeouts per 9 innings.[10][7]

In 2016, he had 32 saves (7th in the AL) in 35 save opportunities, going 3–5 with a 2.51 ERA.[10][13] He struck out 87 batters (8th among AL relievers) in 68 innings, averaging 11.5 strikeouts per 9 innings.[10][7]

In 2017, he had 30 saves (6th in the AL) in 34 save opportunities, finishing the season with a 3–7 record and a 2.94 ERA.[10] He struck out 92 batters (9th-most by an AL reliever) in ​67 1⁄3 innings, averaging 12.3 strikeouts per 9 innings.[10][7]

With his 141st career save in July 2018, Allen broke Bob Wickman's franchise record for saves.[14] Allen lost his closer role to Brad Hand after struggling in the month of August. He ended the season with 27 saves (6th in the AL) in 32 save chances in 70 appearances, as he was 4-6 with a 4.70 ERA, with 80 strikeouts in 67 innings, averaging 10.7 strikeouts per 9 innings.[13] He gave up the longest home runs of any pitcher in major league baseball in 2018, at 495 feet.[15] Through 2018, his 149 career saves were 9th of all major league active pitchers, tops of all major league pitchers under 30 years of age, and tops of all Cleveland Indians pitchers ever.[10][16] He became a free agent after the 2018 season.[10]

Los Angeles Angels

On January 20, 2019, Allen signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels.[17] He began the season as the Angels closer, going 4/4 for the first couple of weeks of the season despite control issues. He was removed of the closer role on April 24 and later was placed on the injured list with a lumbar strain.[18] He was designated for assignment on June 15 after compiling a 6.26 ERA 25 games, and was released on June 18.[19]

Minnesota Twins

On June 22, 2019, the Twins signed Allen to a $500,000 minor league contract for the remainder of the 2019 season. He was released on July 31, 2019.[20]

Texas Rangers

On February 7, 2020, Allen signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers. Allen was released by the Rangers organization on July 24, 2020.

Chicago Cubs

On July 31, 2020, Allen signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs. He was released by the organization on September 3, 2020.[21]

Personal life

Allen married Mallory Rundquist in November 2015. The couple have a son, who was born in 2017.[22] His twin brother, Chad, played baseball for the University of West Florida.[23]

References
  1. "Cody Allen Bio - UCFKnights.com | UCF Knights Athletics". Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  2. "With World Series on tap, Orlando native thrives as Cleveland Indians' closer". Orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  3. "Indians Closer Cody Allen Takes His Game to Another Level – The New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  4. Meisel, Zack (July 21, 2012). "Allen throws scoreless frame in debut". Mlb.com. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  5. "Cody Allen Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "Indians announce 2012 Minor League Awards | Cleveland Indians". Mlb.mlb.com. May 24, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  7. "Cody Allen Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  8. "Cody Allen promoted to the Cleveland Indians". Highpointpanthers.com. July 20, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  9. "Thome hits homer No. 610, Orioles top Indians 10–2". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. July 20, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  10. "Cody Allen Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. "Cleveland Indians Top 10 Single-Season Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "Closer Title Or Not, Indians Reliever Cody Allen Performing Well In 9th". June 9, 2014.
  13. "Cody Allen Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com.
  14. Air (July 5, 2018). "Cody Allen grateful for faith of Cleveland Indians organization". wkyc.com. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  15. "Statcast Leaderboard". baseballsavant.com.
  16. "Active Leaders & Records for Saves". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. "Angels reach one-year deal with Cody Allen to be closer next season". Espn.com. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  18. "Angels place Cody Allen on the IL with stiff back". April 26, 2019.
  19. "Red Sox vs. Orioles Box Score | 06/16/19". MLB.com.
  20. "Reliever Cody Allen released by Twins, ending comeback effort". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  21. Sahadev Sharma [@sahadevsharma] (September 3, 2020). "Ian Miller and Josh Phegley clear waivers and are assigned to South Bend. A.J. Ramos and Cody Allen released, 60-man at 59" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. "Cody Allen returns from paternity list, Adam Plutko returns to Triple-A Columbus". cleveland.com. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  23. "Cleveland Indians' Cody Allen talks Duck Dynasty, twin brother Chad and closing games". cleveland. August 23, 2014.
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