House That Hank Built
Fansided

An Interview with Atlanta Braves Prospects Mike Soroka and Kolby Allard

By Andrew Scherer

Apr 14, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; General view of batting helmet prior to the first MLB game at SunTrust Park between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; General view of batting helmet prior to the first MLB game at SunTrust Park between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 14, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; A bag of 2017 Spring Training MLB baseballs as pitchers and catchers report for spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; A bag of 2017 Spring Training MLB baseballs as pitchers and catchers report for spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Momentum

Now Kolby, you went back down to Danville, I know you had some back issues, and you came back up to Rome. What was it like ending the season in that manner? What did it also mean to you?

KA: Yes, I mean, obviously like Mike said, the Braves have put together more of a winning culture per se than another organization might in a minor league system. That is always fun to go out there and win games, as Mike said.

Personally, it is just coming back and getting some innings under my belt. I have not thrown for a while after I had surgery, so I was a little rusty to start it off.

Then I went down to Danville, got my feet back under me and then I was rolling from there. It is obviously nice to jump into that rotation with Mike and Patrick and Max and Ricardo and Touki and those guys, so it is kind of just picking up where they left off and going out there every five days and try to help the team get a W.

Speaking of those guys, I think last year it was mentioned; I think J.J. Cooper of Baseball America said this could go down as one of the most loaded teams in minor league history. I know Max (Fried) made the jump with you guys as well, was any of that extra motivation for the both of you to kind of pitch better or go out there and compete?

MS: I mean we knew at the end of the year once Max turned it on. He had all of his stuff working every single night. We knew who he is. He had a long couple of years in rehab — he dwelled on that for a while and once he came out and we started to see it pick up for him, we were pretty sure that he was going to make that jump anyways.

Then with spring coming in, we were pretty certain we were going to end up with the Florida State League, and as spring training started to come to an end, we got more apprehensive and thought there was a bigger and bigger and bigger chance of us coming here (Mississippi).

I think regardless of what other guys do I think we would like to do that for our career as well. I mean that is enough motivation right there.

Now, you mentioned the finding out that you would be coming to Mississippi. I will go with you, Kolby. You all made the jump. You are 19 years old. What does it mean to you to know that the Braves organization believes in you guys that much?

KA: Yes, obviously it is good that they have faith in us in that manner, but I am sure speaking for Mike and myself we are both confident in what we can do.

If you go out there and execute your pitches and what you are trying to do, no matter what level you are at, more often than not if you make your pitch it is going to turn out to be more often than not like I said, a positive outcome.

That is the way I look at it, and I am sure Mike is the same way.

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