New York Mets: The Matt Allan enigma
Matt Allan should be knocking on the major league door right now. The New York Mets third round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, Allan was considered to be the top high school arm in that year’s class, dropping only because of his asking price and a strong commitment to the University of Florida. Nonetheless, the Mets took a chance on the young righthander and were able to bring him into their system.
Instead, the Mets still do not know what they have in Allan. He has pitched just 10.1 innings since being drafted, having lost the 2020 season due to the pandemic and last year because of Tommy John surgery. The hope is that he will be ready for the start of the 2022 campaign, but even that is not a given.
New York Mets still do not know what they have with Matt Allan
Allan did pitch well in that time. He allowed three runs on ten hits and five walks in those 10.1 innings, striking out 14 batters. While he would have started the 2020 season back in Low-A, it would not have been a surprise to see him in High-A by the end of the year. As it was, Allan was one of the youngest players at the Mets’ alternate training site and performed well against advanced competition.
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His profile certainly led to high expectations. When healthy, Allan has a mid 90s fastball that could eventually touch triple digits as he matures. His curve is another plus offering with excellent depth and a high spin rate. He also has a changeup that he had been working on and turned it into a viable weapon at the alternate site.
But that is the problem. Allan has not had much of a chance to show what he can do in a competitive setting due to the pandemic and his own injury issues. The potential is there, and Allan is viewed as someone who could be a solid second starter, but he needs to be on the mound to live up to those expectations.
That journey should begin at some point this year. The ongoing lockout is not going to impact the minor league season, allowing Allan the opportunity to show what he can do once he is healthy. Maybe then, the Mets will actually get to know what they have in the former top 100 prospect.
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It has been nearly three years since the New York Mets drafted Matt Allan. Maybe this year, they will figure out what they have with him.