Kolby Allard Develops On The Mound And Off

KISSIMMEE, Fla.—Lefthander Kolby Allard discovered that patience is indeed a virtue.

Drafted 14th overall in 2015, the San Clemente (Calif.) High product battled a stress reaction in his back that led to minor surgery. Braves officials also were cautious while making sure they did not allow Allard to do too much too soon.

The results in 2016 lived up to expectations. Allard made his season debut on June 6 at low Class A Rome and ran up a 8.25 ERA over three starts before a demotion to Rookie-level Danville, where he thrived.

“When I went to Rome, that was the first time I had faced live competition in quite a few months,” said Allard, 19. “I didn’t go (to Danville) to work on mechanics or a particular pitch. It was just a matter of getting more innings . . . That allowed me to get in a groove and everything started clicking from there.”

Allard returned to Rome on July 22 and proceeded to go 5-1, 2.61 over his final eight starts. He then tossed 12 shutout innings in the South Atlantic League playoffs for the champion R-Braves.

The southpaw found his groove as part of a talented Rome rotation. Allard joined righthanders Mike Soroka and Touki Toussaint and lefty Max Fried, all fellow first-round picks, which created an internal competition as well as a tight-knit camaraderie.

“I threw the ball pretty well once I got back to Rome,” Allard said. “It was also a definite competitive situation. Everyone wants to go out there and do just as well or better than the other guy . . . It was a great atmosphere.”

Allard showed last year his feel for pitching as well as his ability work the lower half of the strike zone. He mixes his low-90s fastball with a plus curveball, and he made steady progress with his changeup.

Combine that pitch development with his first offseason to develop physically.

“I’ve been sticking with my weight-lifting program and doing some yoga to stay flexible,” Allard said. “I’ve put on about 10 pounds of muscle and I’m excited about that. With the way things are going, I feel like I can have a very positive 2017 season.”

WIGWAM WISPS

• Outfielder Braxton Davidson reported to camp 20 pounds lighter to increase his flexibility and quickness. The 2014 first-round pick wants to be more aggressive at the plate to reduce the number of called third strikes.

• Second baseman Ozzie Albies returned to the field for the first time since breaking his elbow in the Southern League playoffs last year. He showed no ill effects from the injury.

— Bill Ballew is a writer based in North Carolina