Kolby Allard

Kolby Kenneth Allard (born August 13, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Atlanta Braves. He was selected by the Braves with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft.

Kolby Allard
Texas Rangers – No. 39
Pitcher
Born: (1997-08-13) August 13, 1997
Anaheim, California
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
July 31, 2018, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Win–loss record5–3
Earned run average6.08
Strikeouts36
Teams

Early life and amateur career

Kolby Allard was born in Anaheim, California on August 13, 1997, to parents Kenny and Kristi. He has a younger brother.[1] Allard began playing baseball at the age of five, and focused on pitching at age ten.[2]

Allard attended San Clemente High School in San Clemente, California.[2] As a junior, he had a 1.32 earned run average (ERA) with 98 strikeouts in ​62 2⁄3 innings pitched.[3] After the season, he played in the Perfect Game All-American Classic, where he was named MVP after striking out the side in the inning he pitched.[4] Later in the summer he played for the USA Baseball 18U National Team.[5][6] Allard's senior season ended prematurely after he suffered a stress fracture in his back.[7] Prior to the injury, Allard was projected to be a top 10 pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft.[8] He committed to play college baseball for the UCLA Bruins.[9]

Professional career

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves selected Allard with the 14th pick in the first round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.[10] His high school batterymate, Lucas Herbert, was also drafted by the Braves, 54th overall.[11] Allard signed with the Braves on July 9 for $3 million.[12]

Allard began pitching for the Gulf Coast League Braves in August 2015. After three scoreless appearances, he was shut down for back surgery which was described as a "minor back procedure."[13] The Braves sent Allard to extended spring training to start the 2016 season.[14] Allard spent 2016 with both the Rome Braves and the Danville Braves.[15][16][17] In 2017, he pitched for the Mississippi Braves.[18][19][20] The next year Allard was invited to spring training and ultimately began the season with the Gwinnett Stripers.[21][22] Allard pitched ​109 1⁄3 innings for the Stripers, recording a 2.80 ERA, 87 strikeouts and 33 walks.[23][24] He was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on July 30, 2018.[25] Allard made his major league debut the next day, pitching five innings against the Miami Marlins, yielding four earned runs on five hits, as well as two walks and one strikeout.[26] Aged 20 at the time of his first appearance, Allard became the youngest left-handed pitcher since Charlie Vaughan in 1966 to record a win in his debut.[27] Allard opened the 2019 season with Gwinnett, going 7–5 with a 4.17 ERA over 110 innings.[28]

Texas Rangers

On July 30, 2019, Allard was traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Chris Martin.[29] He was then optioned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.[30] After one start for Nashville, Allard was promoted to the Rangers.[31] In 9 starts for Texas, Allard went 4–2 with a 4.96 ERA and 33 strikeouts over ​45 1⁄3 innings.[32]

References
  1. Eddy Lloyd (July 7, 2016). "Allard's home debut magical". Chatham Star-Tribune. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  2. Eric Sondheimer (February 22, 2015). "Entering baseball season, Kolby Allard is at the top of his game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  3. Jim Halley (March 5, 2015). "San Clemente's Kolby Allard and Lucas Herbert are lone ALL-USA Preseason Baseball teammates". USA Today. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  4. Steve Breazeale (August 14, 2014). "Allard on top of his game". San Clemente Times. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  5. Steve Breazeale (September 3, 2014). "Allard, Herbert Named to USA 18U Baseball Team". San Clemente Times. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  6. Kenny Connolly (August 1, 2014). "Opportunities abound for Molnar, Allard". Orange County Register. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  7. John Manuel (March 20, 2015). "Back Injury Sidelines Kolby Allard". Baseball America. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  8. Creg Stephenson (July 10, 2015). "Atlanta Braves sign top draft pick Kolby Allard to $3 million bonus". The Birmingham News. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  9. "Kolby Allard - Player Profile". Perfect Game USA. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  10. Mark Bowman (June 8, 2015). "Braves take prep lefty Allard with No. 14 pick". MLB.com. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  11. Mark Bowman (June 9, 2015). "Braves get Herbert, Allard's catcher, at No. 54". MLB.com. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  12. David O'Brien (July 9, 2015). "Braves sign top draft pick Kolby Allard". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  13. Mark Bowman (November 19, 2015). "Braves top Draft pick Allard has 2nd back surgery". MLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  14. Mark Bowman (April 5, 2016). "Allard staying patient during rehab process". MLB.com. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  15. Jeremy Stewart (March 1, 2017). "Rome Braves enter 2017 with renewed momentum". Rome News-Tribune. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  16. "The Rome Braves Rotation is Ridiculous, Especially in Playoffs". Fox Sports. June 30, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  17. Alex Tichenor (June 14, 2017). "After draft, names could be headed to D-Braves roster". Danville Register & Bee. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  18. David Brandt (May 2, 2017). "Braves 'fast-forward' 19-year-old pitchers Allard, Soroka". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  19. Steve Hummer (June 9, 2017). "Down on farm in Mississippi, young Braves creating a stir". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  20. Gerard Gilberto (September 1, 2017). "M-Braves' Allard records first career shutout". MiLB.com. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  21. Chris Bumbaca (March 9, 2018). "Braves reassign Soroka, Allard to Minors camp". MiLB.com. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  22. Gabriel Burns (April 5, 2018). "Acuna, Soroka, Allard lead 2018 Gwinnett Stripers". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  23. Mark Bowman (July 30, 2018). "Braves to use prospects in 6-man rotation". MLB.com. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  24. Gabriel Burns (July 30, 2018). "Kolby Allard to make major league debut Tuesday". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  25. Anne Rogers (July 30, 2018). "Allard to make big league debut on Tuesday". MLB.com.
  26. Tori McElhaney (July 31, 2018). "Prospect Allard debuts, picks up hit in 1st AB". MLB.com. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  27. Chris Vivlamore (August 1, 2018). "It was a short stay, but Kolby Allard will be back". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  28. T.R. Sullivan (July 30, 2019). "Rangers get promising young lefty for Martin". MLB.com. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  29. "Braves land reliever Martin from Texas for Allard". ESPN.com. July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  30. Jeff Wilson (August 3, 2019). "What kind of pitcher are the Rangers getting in Kolby Allard? Allow him to explain". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  31. David Wellham (August 6, 2019). "Kolby Allard to start for the Rangers". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  32. Evan Grant (September 25, 2019). "Rangers pitcher Brock Burke scratched from final start due to shoulder fatigue; Kolby Allard finishes season with a loss". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
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