Logan Workman still recalls one of the moments that changed his career path forever.
On a fall weekend before his high school senior season, Workman attended a baseball camp at Lee University. Despite spending his first three years at Soddy-Daisy as a standout catcher he had plans to put his arm to bigger and better use.
Workman certainly showcased his arm talent when he stepped onto the mound and raised eyebrows all around the park as he unleashed a 93-mile-per-hour fastball.
"Every year at camp we tell guys you have to do something to separate yourself from everybody else because there are 75 kids in each day," Lee coach Mark Brew said. "Logan came in as an unknown to our camp, but definitely quickly caught everybody's attention.
"At the end of camp I lost track of him and ended up chasing him to the parking lot to ask him on a visit the next week. The rest is history. We got a great kid from a very quality family and it was a big get for us."
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-handed flame thrower recently completed his first professional baseball season for the Tampa Bay Rays, who drafted him 221st overall in the seventh round in July.
Contributed photo / Logan Workman starred in rookie ball for the Tampa Bay Rays not allowing a run until his sixth appearance in the Florida Complex League.After dominating his way around opposing lineups with the Flames as one of the top pitchers at the NCAA Division II level, Workman did much of the same in rookie ball playing in the Florida Complex League.
Showing consistentcy with his fastball, which averaged around 94-96 mph, Workman also showcased an emerging slider that baffled hitters as well.
He threw shutout baseball through his first 10 professional innings as he faced off against other minor league talents from the Red Sox, Orioles, Braves and Twins. He tossed a three-inning shutout against Boston on Sept. 7 and finished with 14 strikeouts over 10 1/3 innings in which he only allowed six hits and one earned run.
Returning to Lee University's Olympic Field to throw a 30-pitch bullpen on Friday - in which he worked in a new cutter as the fourth pitch of his repertoire - Workman reflected on the people who helped him get this far.
"This dream all started in high school with Coach Jared Hensley and Trig (Jamie Tricoglou)," said Workman, decked out in light blue Tampa Bay Rays gear while watching Lee University's baseball team intrasquad.
"They put me in a great spot to come here to camp. There were people who asked why didn't I go Division I or Power 5. There was an opportunity for that maybe if I started pitching earlier, but I felt like I was supposed to be here. Everything was telling me that when I came on a visit here and sat down in Coach Brew's office. I remember him telling me in 'four years we want to see you on a major league organization'. I thanked him the other day because there was no other place I needed to be than here."
Every time Workman steps to the mound he brings purpose and pace. His bulldog mentality is sharp and he also pounds the zone as he threw 74 percent of his pitches in rookie ball for strikes and averaged 8.32 pitches per inning. The only extra base hit he allowed came in his final inning this summer as he posted a 1-0 record and a 0.87 ERA for the FCL Rays.
Miniscule ERA's are something Workman is used to as he posted a 1.81 ERA or lower in three of his four seasons at Lee, which included an absurd 0.21 ERA as he only allowed one earned run over 42 innings (12 hits allowed) in 2020. He struck out 110 over 79 2/3 innings this past spring when he went 8-1 for the Flames, who ranked as high as No. 2 in the country.
In a minor league system which has produced star pitching prospects for years and shown a knack to draft big league projectable arms, Workman looks to be in the perfect spot in his early professional career.
"Pitching is a staple down here. You don't get drafted by Tampa Bay if they don't see something special," Workman said. "I feel very comfortable down here. I am in a great organization that has shown you can work your way up the ladder if you put in the work and are consistent."
Tampa Bay fans are excited about the future with Workman in the picture as many have compared his talents to that of former prospect and current pitcher Chris Archer.
One day Workman hopes younger kids and players like to compare and imitate his game.
"I want to get to the big stage and make it to the show," Workman said. "My dream is to be pitching at the Trop (Tropicana Field) one day. I have shown to this point I deserve to be here and I am going to keep on working one day at a time to be the best pitcher I can be."
Lee University has had 35 players drafted and signed by a Major League team. The Flames certainly have high hopes and are excited to see the future of their former ace who set many school records.
"Logan is a special talent. With his stuff and being in a great organization, he can move forward and ascend," Coach Brew said. "It's extremely difficult to make the Major Leagues, but he has the ability and mindset to do so. His journey to where he is now has been fun to watch. Who knows? Maybe he will be the third player from our program to make it to the major leagues."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.