Logan Allen Collects One Dollar Bet from John Cena

When we interviewed Logan Allen at Southwest University Park a few weeks ago, the El Paso Chihuahuas starting pitcher described his now infamous "one dollar bet" he made with actor and professional wrestler John Cena. The chance encounter between the two in December of 2017 was described by Cena in this video.

Earlier this week we found out that the San Diego Padres would call up Allen to make his Major League debut against the Milwaukee Brewers. Nobody was happier to hear this news than Cena, who was in attendance at Petco Park for Allen's debut. The 22-year old shutout the Brewers over seven innings, and he even registered his first hit and scored a run in San Diego's 4-0 win over Milwaukee. After the game, Allen talked about the moment and he mentioned his bet with Cena at the 3:35 mark.

Prior to this afternoon's game, both Allen and Cena met in front of the pitcher's mound, and the bet was paid.

Allen is one of the best stories I have covered in the five-plus years since the Chihuahuas debuted in Triple-A. He dedicates every game he pitches to his older brother Philip, who has severe cerebral palsy and cannot walk or talk. Cena, who broke the record for most Make-A-Wish appearances, was emotional when Logan talked to him about his older brother.

From a baseball standpoint, it not surprising that Allen's first start in the big leagues was a success. He has coasted through the Minor Leagues and he was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Year in 2018. Like most Triple-A pitchers, the 2019 has not been as easy for him as his past stops, but he has put together a strong May and positioned himself well for his first call-up to San Diego. Even if he comes back to the Chihuahuas, expect the Padres to give Allen plenty of opportunities to become a fixture in their starting rotation.