Kolby Allard | LHP
Background
Allard, 18, attends San Clemente High School in California and is committed to UCLA. His season ended after just two starts earlier this spring due to stress reaction in his back. There was talk Allard would hold some workouts for scouts prior to the draft to show he’s healthy, but I’m not sure whether that actually happened.
Scouting Report
Allard is on a small side at 6-foot-0 and 170 lbs., but he has some of the best pure stuff in the draft class when healthy. His fastball resides in the 91-94 mph range and he showed some 96s in showcase events last summer. His curveball has a ton of spin and is already an above-average offering with a chance to become even better. Allard also has a promising changeup that is advanced by high school pitcher standards. Thanks to good athleticism and a clean delivery, Allard throws strikes with ease and there’s potential for well-above-average command down the road. Aside from his size, this is an ace starter kit.
Miscellany
Keith Law (subs. req’d), MLB.com, and Baseball America had Allard as the 6th, 16th, and 18th best 2015 draft prospect in their latest rankings, respectively. Law said the Yankees are in on Allard in a recent mock draft but Baseball America said the opposite, that they’re out on injured pitchers, so who knows. The Yankees pick 16th and 30th this year, and, even with the injury, I don’t think Allard will last until that 30th pick. It goes without saying the medical review work will be important.
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