Two former Lee baseball pitchers are currently in Southern League (Class AA) and are looking forward to finishing the 2023 season in impressive fashion. Logan Workman is with the Montgomery (Ala.) Biscuits while Alan Zhang Carter is a member of the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Huntsville, Ala.).
Workman was drafted in the seventh round by the Tampa Bay Rays after the 2021 season with the Flames. After a solid 2022 year in High-A at Bowling Green, the Soddy-Daisy native pitched well in spring training. During a spring training exhibition game, he faced and threw well for three innings against some of the top hitters in the New York Yankees lineup. He earned a spot on the 2023 roster with the Biscuits.
The hard-throwing right-hander was warming up and getting ready to open the new season when he felt a felt a slight pain. After another pitch he knew he was in trouble and called the trainer out to the mound. A pulled Oblique muscle sidelined Workman for 2 ½ months at the Rays training complex in Sarasota, Fla.
"I spent each morning working out until noon, would eat lunch and then have the rest of the day off," he explained. "It was tough physically and mentally as I worked to make my way back to Montgomery.
"I started to throw in games on June 6, working 1 1/3 innings (against other teams in training) and did the same thing again on June 13 and 17. On June 24, I was allowed to pitch three innings and struck out three, allowed no walks and no hits."
Workman was declared ready and sent back to Montgomery on June 28. One day later he was on the bump as the starting pitcher against the Knoxville Smokies. "The pitching coach allowed since I was scheduled for my bullpen session at the Florida Complex, and since I was in Montgomery, it was OK for me to throw 65 pitches against the Smokies."
Things went great. He threw five innings (65 pitches) and was credited with the 6-0 win over the Knoxville team. Over the five innings he allowed three hits, no runs, four strikeouts and one walk.
"My arm feels fine. I was throwing between 94-97 (mph) and my slider was good. The extra time at the Complex has been beneficial for developing my cutter and my out-pitch (the change-up). I am hoping to throw 75 pitches in my next outing," Logan pointed out. "I'm still working to regain all my arm and body strength."
Workman says he feels like being away with the injury has given him a fresh start in Montgomery. "I want to stay positive and finish the season strong. There is a chance I could be moved up to AAA in late August, but a positive finish in Montgomery is what I am shooting for."
He notes the current AA Montgomery roster is a mixture of young and older pitchers. "The Rays are known for developing pitchers and we have a strong staff at the major league level. Our front office uses our talented overall pitching staff at all levels to trade for position players."
Workman says the pitching coaches at all levels have helped with his overall development. "When I went from A to High-A the coach told me what I would be facing and to trust my stuff. The High-A coach talked about the adjustments I would have to make and helped me work with a couple of pitches." Workman points out that the Montgomery pitching coach has also been encouraging and praised his first outing.
The Biscuits and Workman are scheduled to visit Chattanooga and face the Lookouts in a six-game series (July 25-30).
Alan Zhang Carter
Nothing has come easy for Carter. After battling back from Tommy John surgery, he finished his career with the Flames in 2022. This past spring, he pitched for Team China in the World Baseball Classic after signing a free agent contract with the Los Angles Angels.
He began his professional career in Single-A with the Inland Empire (San Bernardino, Calif.) of the Angels organization and was quickly moved to AA and the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
Early in his college career and after coming back from Tommy John surgery, the gifted right-hander struggled with control at times. This has again been a problem in Huntsville.
"My speed is about the same (94-96 mph) and I feel like I'm on track," Carter said on a positive note. "My work is all in relief, usually 2 ½ innings." He uses three pitches, fastball, slider, and a newly developed split-finger pitch, which serves as his change-up.
Zhang Carter has found a stark difference in the A and AA hitters "Most of the AA players are good hitters and hit mistakes," he explained. "When you get behind 3-1 against these guys and must throw the fastball, you are in trouble. It does not matter how hard you are throwing."
He feels like he is in a good situation with the Trash Pandas. "I am in Huntsville right now because several of the pitchers have been called up to our major league team," he stressed. "Overall, more teams are calling players up from AA and are enjoying success."
Carter loves the fan support the Trash Pandas are getting in Huntsville. "They draw around 4,000 fans for each home game. They are loud and excited. It is a lot of fun to go to the ballpark each night," he said in closing.
