Once upon a time, left-hander Kolby Allard was considered a top prospect.
In 2017, he was the Atlanta Braves’ fourth-best prospect, per MLB Pipeline.
However, after seven major league seasons, it’s safe to say his career has been a disappointment so far.
Allard has a 5.99 ERA in 272 innings, which is not ideal.
He is 27 years old, so still has time to build a better career for himself if he makes some adjustments.
That’s exactly what the Cleveland Guardians are thinking in taking a flier on Allard.
“Cleveland Guardians have signed LHP Kolby Allard to a minor league contract for the 2025 season with an invite to MLB spring training,” Guardians Prospective wrote on X.
Cleveland #Guardians have signed LHP Kolby Allard to a minor league contract for the 2025 season with an invite to MLB spring training.
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) February 3, 2025
Allard was a top prospect for a reason.
Now, maybe the talent that drew the attention of scouts all over the country is still there hidden behind the home run issues that have plagued him in his career.
For Cleveland, it costs very little to find out if that’s the case.
If there is a team in baseball known for helping pitchers improve with coaching and creativity, it’s the Guardians.
If Allard doesn’t improve, he is not a financial burden and can be let go, or he could stick around as minor league depth if needed.
However, if the Guardians’ player development staff can identify his problems and provide him with the tools to fix them, the reward could be huge.
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