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Texas Rangers: Kolby Allard earns quick call-up to big league club

By Kenneth Nash

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 31: Kolby Allard #36 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch in the fifth inning of his MLB pitching debut during the game against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park on July 31, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 31: Kolby Allard #36 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch in the fifth inning of his MLB pitching debut during the game against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park on July 31, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
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Just a week after being acquired from the Braves, Kolby Allard is set to make his Texas Rangers debut on Friday against the Brewers.

Just over a week has passed since the Texas Rangers acquired left-handed pitching prospect, Kolby Allard, from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Chris Martin. In that time, Allard made just a single start for the Rangers Triple-A affiliate, Nashville, before earning himself a shot with the big league club.

The 21-year old left-hander, once among the top pitching prospects in all of baseball, is set to join up with the Rangers on their current road trip and make his Rangers debut against the Milwaukee Braves on Friday. In his lone start for Triple-A Nashville, Allard threw 5 shutout innings allowing 4 hits and a pair of walks while recording 8 strikeouts. Prior to joining the Texas system, Allard was with the Braves Triple-A affiliate, Gwinnett, where he made 20 starts with a 4.17 ERA and 1.41 WHIP.

It’s not a particular shock that we’re seeing Allard in the big with the Rangers this season. Expectations are that he would get a start or two down the stretch as Texas looked to get a jumpstart on planning their 2020 rotation. However, the fact that Allard’s promotion comes after just 1 start for Nashville is a bit of a surprise. It seemed to me that Texas may want to spend more time evaluating Allard and possibly trying to pinpoint what has caused a drop in his velocity recently, something he’s struggled with this season.

While Allard will be making his Rangers big league debut, he does already have 3 Major League appearances under his belt, all coming in 2018 with the Braves. In those 3 appearances, 1 of which was a start, Allard threw 8 combined innings posting a 12.33 ERA and a 2.88 WHIP.

Allard looks to be the first of a few Rangers pitching prospects that will get a chance to showcase their stuff in the Majors this season with Brock Burke, Demarcus Evans and Joe Barlow seemingly the next few in line to garner a look or two.

For a look at where Allard slots into our Nolan Writin’ prospect rankings, check out a post-trade update here.

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