The FIU Panthers are on a roll in major drafts. This time it’s Logan Allen in baseball

First it was James Morgan, and now it’s Logan Allen.

The FIU Panthers athletic program has helped develop a couple of its top athletes — both of them with great arms — into high draft picks this summer.

Morgan, a quarterback, was drafted in the fourth round by the NFL’s New York Jets in April.

Last Thursday, Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians drafted Allen, a lefty pitcher, in the second round.

Allen shared the draft experience with friends and family, and anxiety filled the room.

“There was a lot of stress,” Allen admitted. “I was sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting for a team to pull the trigger.

“But I couldn’t be happier that it’s the Indians. Hearing my name called was the coolest moment of my life.”

Allen said he has agreed to terms with the Indians. The terms reportedly include a $1.1 million signing bonus (slightly under the $1.2 million slot that coincides with his selection at No. 56).

“I thought Logan should’ve been picked higher,” FIU coach Mervyl Melendez said. “But I told Logan and his family that he would go to an organization that will take care of him, and I’m really happy that’s the case.”

Baseball America raved about the “great fit” between Allen and Cleveland.

“The Indians have done an excellent job with pitching development,” Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo wrote. “They have turned players with Allen’s profile [not overpowering stuff but a solid three-pitch mix] into better pitchers. This seems like a great match for player and team.”

FIU pitching coach Willie Collazo agreed that the Indians are perfect for Allen.

“They are great with analytics and bio-mechanical stuff,” Collazo said. “Logan has always been a two-way guy [pitcher/hitter]. I can’t wait to see what he does when he can focus on just pitching.”

Allen is now third on the list of fastest-drafted FIU players. Only right-hander Josh Banks (No. 50 by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003) and catcher Aramis Garcia (No. 52 by the San Francisco Giants in 2014) were selected earlier in an MLB Draft.

Then again, Allen nearly broke that record.

“The Braves seriously considered Logan in the first round [at pick No. 25],” Melendez revealed. “I thought Tampa Bay had him at No. 37, and there were six or seven teams calling him in the second round [before Cleveland].”

THIS AND THAT

▪ The Indians now have two Logan Allens in their organization. The older Allen, 23, is a lefty pitcher from West Palm Beach who made his major-league debut last year. FIU’s Logan Allen, 21, is also a lefty pitcher, making for an interesting situation were he to join his namesake in the majors.

“He reached out to me after the draft, and we talked,” FIU’s Allen said of his namesake. “It’s really funny. Maybe there can be some marketing possibilities one day.”

▪ Catcher Jose Garcia, who hit 25 homers in two-plus seasons at FIU, signed with the Boston Red Sox on Sunday as an undrafted free agent. His 13 homers in 2018 set an FIU freshman record. He was named Conference USA’s Freshman of the Year that season.

▪ Collazo said he spoke to FIU pitcher Tyler Myrick, who was ranked among the draft’s top 400 prospects but was not selected. “He wants to return (to FIU) to prove he can be drafted,” Collazo said.

After promising ERAs his first two years at FIU (3.73 and 3.86), Myrick has only pitched in four games the past two seasons, due to injury. He missed all of 2019 and had a 6.50 ERA in an abbreviated 2020 schedule.