CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It didn't take long for Cody Allen to prove he belonged in a big-league bullpen.
He debuted with the Indians in July 2012, just 13 months after the club selected him in the 23rd round of the amateur draft. Allen started to log meaningful innings the following year, and he's primarily handled the ninth inning since 2014.
The right-hander owns a career 2.60 ERA, with 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings. Like any closer, he has occasionally added to fans' stress levels with his tightrope act. But what goes through Allen's mind during such a nerve-racking inning?