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MMN Top 30 Prospects: Steal of Draft Matthew Allan at No. 4

By Roberto Correa

April 6, 2020 No comments

Matthew Allan, Photo by Ed Ed Delany of MMN

No. 4 Matthew Allan, RHP

B/T: R/R Age: 18 (4/17/2001)
Height: 6’3″ Weight: 225 lbs
Acquired: Drafted 3rd round of 2019 MLB Draft (89th overall) from Seminole High School
ETA: 2023
2019 Stats
: 2.61 ERA, 1.450 WHIP, 4.35 BB/9, 12.19 K/9, 2.33 FIP

From the time surrounding the 2019 MLB Draft, Matthew Allan was one of the hotter subjects. Considered by many to be the top prep arm in the draft, it was rather shocking that he did not go in the first round. Talks of Allan wanting around a $4 million signing bonus made signability concerns a reason why teams steered away from Allan. Quinn Priester, 18th overall to the Pirates, was the only prep arm to receive a signing bonus over $3 million dollars, with a $3.40 million dollar bonus (80k under slot).

Everyone was surprised when Allan’s name was called on day two, during the third round, on the eleventh pick to the New York Mets. Pulled away from his commitment to the University of Florida by a $2.50 million dollar bonus, Allan’s bonus was the second highest for any prep arm, tied with the 24th overall pick Daniel Espino, who was taken by Cleveland.

Signing Allan in the third round made the Mets scouting team look like geniuses, and the Mets were considered to have one of the best drafts of 2019 as a result. Media called it a coup, a heist, and were praising the Mets for having pulled off signing a first-round talent in the third round (more on how the Mets went about drafting and signing Allan can be read here in an interview between former area scout for the Mets, Jon Updike, and our own Matthew Brownstein).

Playing for Seminole High School before the draft, Allan had an impressive senior year. Pitching 56 innings with a 0.99 ERA and a 108:14 K:BB ratio, Allan helped his team get to the Division II playoffs. Allan also had a remarkable showing in the semifinals, where he pitched a perfect game with 17 strikeouts.

Video Courtesy of MaxPreps

Having his success continue during his tenure in the minor leagues, Allan pitched to a 1.08 ERA/2.31 FIP while striking out 32.4 percent and walking 11.8 percent of all hitters for the Gulf Coast League Mets. That performance lead to Allan being called up to the short season Brooklyn Cyclones. Allan had just one start during the regular season against the Staten Island Yankees, and it was his toughest professional outing to date, allowing two runs over five hits in two innings. During the post-game interview, Allan was positive about the experience and noted that it was his first time pitching against college bats that knew how to hit the ball where they wanted.

There’s no doubt that this was a learning experience for Allan, who then went to pitch five scoreless innings over two games on the Cyclones run to their first New York Penn League Championship since 2001 (the Cyclones were co-champions in 2001 due to the championship not being played as a result of the attacks on New York City on September 11th, 2001). Showing tremendous ability to rebound and recover, Allan showed the tenacity in his game throughout the playoffs.

Notable about Allan is that he’s a big-bodied pitcher. Standing at 6′ 3″ and 225 pounds. Favoring Allan is his clean delivery and quick arm motion coming out of his high leg kick. Showing a very clean delivery and easily repeatable motion makes scouts optimistic about Allan’s ability to stay healthy in the future, as well.

Allan currently has two plus pitches in a fastball that rides 93-96 miles per hour and tops out at 97, and a curveball between 77-82 miles per hour. Allan has no problem locating his fastball and paints the corners, as well as targets high and low well. That fastball ranking in the 97.9 percentile among prep arms (perhaps lacking behind just Espino and few others).

Per Baseball America, Allan’s curveball is consistently over 2500 RPM. Solid spin, and emphasized by break, as well as the ability to locate. Being that it’s likely his best pitch, Allan will learn that utilizing his best pitch more often will produce more success at the higher levels.

Allan’s changeup lags behind his first two pitches, but is a pitch that many scouts say should be at least average, and possibly above average. There is no true rush, as Allan is just about to turn 19 in a couple of weeks, and will (should) be playing in his first year of full-season ball in 2020 with the Columbia Firelies (granted that the baseball season does happen).

Having a reputation as a tireless worker, and seeing as Mets scouting and development members talk more about starting to make use of high-speed cameras, it should be a marriage that helps Allan optimize his talents, and helps him develop closer to what appears to be a high number two ceiling.

Previous Rankings

5 Mark Vientos – 3B6 Brett Baty – 3B7 David Peterson – LHP, 8 Shervyen Newton — INF9 Thomas Szapucki – LHP10 Josh Wolf – RHP, 11 Kevin Smith – LHP12 Franklyn Kilome – RHP, 13 Jordan Humphreys – RHP

14 Junior Santos – RHP, 15 Carlos Cortes – 2B, 16 Freddy Valdez – OF, 17 Adrian Hernandez – CF, 18 Dedniel Nunez – RHP 

19 Alexander Ramirez – OF, 20 Ali Sanchez – C, 25-21 Led by Jaylen Palmer, 30-26 Led by Ryley Gilliam