Braves 2015 Top Pick Kolby Allard Makes Rome Debut

The Atlanta Braves number one overall pick in 2015 Kolby Allard made his Rome Braves debut Monday night, looking shaky but healthy, and flashing his plus breaking stuff.

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When Atlanta nabbed LHP Kolby Allard with the 14th overall pick in the 2015 draft, there was reason to wonder how risky the pick was. After all, Allard was in the midst of dealing with a back injury that would require injury. This is not the sort of baggage to be taken lightly, being that pitching fairly regularly requires the use of the back. Just observe any little league coach in the presence of a youthful hurler leaving his heater upstairs.

“Bend your back!”

Allard did just that on Monday, as he’s done many times before. This time, he did it in a Rome Braves uniform for the first time. Allard had been working his way back from a fusion surgery on a herniated disk back in August, 2015. The lefty made three appearances while rehabbing with the Braves’ Gulf Coast squad in 2015. There, he racked up a quick line of 6IP, 12K, and 0BB.

Allard had started 2016 with a conservative assignment to extended spring training, and those with a finger on the pulse were stoked to keep an eye on Allard’s season debut with Rome.

Allard’s results didn’t exactly match the anticipation.

More specifically…

It goes without saying that the primary concerns at this juncture for our still 18 year old top prospect are his health and his projectable tools. Despite having a rough outing, Allard coupled lively velocity with the smooth delivery and big league curve that have become his calling card.

As the big league club continues to limp… er… spasm into the allstar break, Allard’s presence in an already interesting Rome rotation is another small tonic for the attentive Braves faithful. Our resident farm-hand-egg-head (though exceptionally suave) Benjamin Chase will keep you up to date with his and the rest of our Prospect Parade’s progress as the season unfolds.

Cheers, Braves Country.

Next: Ben Chase's 2016 Draft Predictions!