As announced last night, the Atlanta Braves have called up LHP Kolby Allard to start today's series finale against the Minnesota Twins.
Allard, who was drafted in the 1st round (#14 overall) by Atlanta in the 2015 MLB Draft out of high school, debuted for Atlanta on July 31st, 2018, getting his only Atlanta start against Miami. He went five innings with nine hits and four earned runs, striking out one and walking two, but earned the win as Atlanta put up nineteen hits in an eventual 11-6 victory. He made two more appearances, both in relief, before being traded to the Texas Rangers at the 2019 trade deadline in exchange for reliever Chris Martin.
Allard went 8-22 with a 5.65 ERA for Texas over four seasons, with sixty-two appearances (thirty-two starts) and Atlanta re-acquired him in November 2022 for starter Jake Odorizzi and cash considerations. The plan for Allard at the time was to serve as rotation depth in AAA Gwinnett, but he began the season on the IL after a Grade-Two right oblique strain suffered during spring training. He's made two starts in AAA Gwinnett in a rehab capacity, allowing two earned runs in six and two-thirds innings, striking out eight and walking two.
The corresponding move for the Allard callup was optioning Dereck Rodríguez to Gwinnett. The righty made one appearance for Atlanta, throwing two scoreless innings with one hit, one walk, and one strikeout to finish an 11-4 Braves victory over Philadelphia on May 28th. He was called up on Monday to the active roster, but did not appear in a game.
More stories from the Minnesota Twins series
TAKEAWAYS: Braves' offense flexes its muscles in 6-2 win over Minnesota
WATCH: Now it's Austin Riley's turn to flash some leather, torment the Twins
WATCH: Ozzie Albies and Orlando Arcia team up to make a highlight reel play
WATCH: Ronald Acuña Jr. does it all, adds great catch to his two homers tonight
WATCH: Money Mike, Ronald Acuña go back to back for Braves' fourth and fifth homers of the night
WATCH: Braves play a little Home Run Derby in the first inning against Minnesota
WATCH: Ronald Acuña Jr. smokes a homer on the first pitch of the game
Takeaways: The Braves get the best of the Twins in a pitchers duel
WATCH: Homers from Marcell Ozuna and Ronald Acuña Jr. give the Braves a 4-1 lead over the Twins
WATCH: A fielders choice from Travis d'Arnaud tied the game at a run a piece
Lineup, how to watch Atlanta's series opener with the Minnesota Twins on Monday night
PREVIEW: Strikeouts, bombs galore to be featured when Braves host Twins
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