Atlanta Braves Kolby Allard Changing Professions
By Jeff Schafer
Braves Kolby Allard Changing Professions?!?!?
Atlanta Braves drafted high school pitcher, Kolby Allard, with the first round of the 2015 MLB draft – 14th overall – out of San Clemente High School. This was the highest draft pick the Braves have had since they selected Mike Minor with the seventh overall pick in 2009.
Before we scare anyone too much, Allard is NOT changing professions…but he did joke about it on twitter Friday.
The 18-year-old, left-handed pitcher received a bonus of $3.042 million to sign with the Braves instead of attending college. This was $200,000 above the assigned slot value for the 14th pick. Allard previous committed to playing baseball with the UCLA Bruins.
Draft analysts said prior to the draft that he would have been the top high-school pitcher in the draft, but a stress fracture in his back caused him to miss most of his senior season. In fact, he only pitched seven innings before being shut down for the season.
Allard led Team USA to the Gold Medal in the 2014 Pan American Games and entered his senior season as a first-team Perfect Game preseason All-American. He stands 6-feet-1 and 175 pounds and his fastball consistently sits at 92-94 mph and has reportedly hit 96 mph. He also has a tremendous curve ball that has scouts drooling over.
What now?
Since he didn’t sign with the Braves until July, he only started three games for the Braves Gulf Coast League. In each of his three starts, he added an inning to his performance.
In his debut, he struck out the side in his one inning of work. In his next start on August 15, he struck out five in his two innings on the mound. In his final start, Allard struck out four while allowing his first and only hit of the 2015 season. Six innings pitched, 12 strikeouts, no walks…not too shabby!
With the 2016 season right around the corner, you can’t help but get excited about the young prospects the Braves currently have. Allard is definitely high on everyone’s list as he sits #6 on MLB.com Braves top prospects and #5 on Baseball Prospectus.
The youngster has a bright future wearing a Braves uniform. It will be fun watching him grow into the Braves rotation, but we will have to wait at least two or three more years before we see him in Atlanta.