Former High Point University pitcher Cody Allen made his Major League debut with the Cleveland Indians on Friday and pitched for the Tribe again on Sunday. Allen pitched for the Panthers in 2011 and became the second HPU player to make it to the Major Leagues.
“This has been an incredible experience,” Allen said. “Everything happened so fast. I found out I was going to Cleveland on Thursday and Friday I was warming up in the fourth inning. I was definitely nervous when I first took the mound but after a few pitches I really relaxed. I had to remind myself it is the same game and to go back to the basics.”
Allen relieved Derek Lowe in the fourth inning of Cleveland’s game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. Allen recorded his first Major League strikeout and got two groundouts to record a scoreless inning in his debut.
On Sunday, Allen pitched another scoreless inning of relief against the Orioles. He pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning with one strikeout. Allen needed just 10 pitches to record the perfect inning.
High Point head coach Craig Cozart and associate head coach Bryan Peters flew to Cleveland over the weekend and were in the stands for Allen’s appearance on Sunday.
“It meant so much to me to have them in the stands along with my family,” Allen said. “I learned so much from the coaches at High Point and it was so important that they got to be here this weekend. Coach Cozart carries himself in such a professional manner at all times and I have tried to implement that in how I handle myself throughout my baseball career. I also learned a lot about mental toughness at High Point. You have to be mentally tough to play for Cozart and I needed that when I took the mound in front of 34,000 people for the first time.”
Allen went 4-6 in his season with the Panthers, leading the team with a 3.12 ERA and 83-2/3 innings pitched. He earned second team All-Big South honors. According to the Indians, Allen is the second member of 2011 draft class to reach MLB, joining Trevor Bauer of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Allen becomes the second HPU player to make it to the Major Leagues. Richard Broadus Culler played for the Athletics, White sox, Braves, Cubs and Giants from 1936-1949.
Allen posted a 1.87 ERA in 31 games this season, spent between Class A Carolina, Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. He has 35 strikeouts in 31.2 innings for the Clippers at the Triple-A level.
Last year, the right-hander went 5-1 with a 1.65 ERA across four Minor League levels, ending with a stint in Double-A. Allen was drafted twice by the Indians, the first time around in the 16th round in 2010 and then in the 23rd round in 2011.
In 2 years as Indians farmhand, Allen has piled up 128 strikeouts against 23 walks with a 1.74 ERA in 98 innings.