Atlanta Braves Former 1st-Rounder Heads To Injured List

A former Atlanta Braves' first-round pick finally made his way back to the organization this spring after five years away, but now will have to start the season on the injured list. Left-hander Kolby Allard is dealing with an oblique issue.

Kolby Allard, part of the Braves’ starting pitching depth, will start the season on the injured list. He suffered a grade 2 right oblique strain.

— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) March 9, 2023

The Braves' starting pitching depth takes a hit, as Allard has a grade 2 right oblique strain; those types of injuries don't normally resolve very quickly.

Allard was selected with the 14th pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, and came up as a 20-year-old in 2018 for a handful of appearances. But then he landed with the Texas Rangers a year later, and spent the next four seasons there. He struggled to a combined 8-22 record, a 5.85 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.

The Braves reacquired him from the Rangers in the November trade for Jake Odorizzi, hoping that now, at the age of 25, he can start to realize some of his potential.

In the meantime, once he's recovered from the oblique strain, he's expected to be at Triple-A and provide rotation depth for the Braves if needed.

Photo: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports