Breaking: Cleveland Guardians Sign Former Top Prospect Pitcher

Cleveland Guardians Add Former Highly-Ranked Pitching Prospect

The Cleveland Guardians have signed former top pitching prospect Kolby Allard to a minor-league contract.

While the Guardians have already bolstered their pitching staff by re-signing Shane Bieber and trading for Luis Ortiz, they still need additional depth. However, with much of the free-agent pitching market now thin, some of the top remaining starters may be too expensive for Cleveland.

As a result, the team may look for affordable options, much like they did last year when they added Ben Lively.

It appears the Guardians are hoping for a similar success story with Allard. The 27-year-old left-hander was a first-round pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2015 and was once considered a top prospect in baseball.

The Guardians have signed LHP Kolby Allard to a Minor League contract with a non-roster invitation to Major League ST Camp.https://t.co/mcRnJPxD4J

— GuardsInsider (@GuardsInsider) February 3, 2025

Allard made his MLB debut in 2018 but struggled in his brief time with the Braves, posting a 12.38 ERA over three appearances. He was then traded to the Texas Rangers, where he spent four seasons, with his most significant action coming in 2021, when he went 3-12 with a 5.41 ERA over 32 games and 17 starts.

After the 2022 season, the Rangers traded Allard back to the Braves, where he spent one year before signing with the Philadelphia Phillies. Last season, he made seven appearances and four starts for the Phillies, posting an 0-1 record with a 6.57 ERA.

Allard’s career ERA sits at 5.99 across 76 games and 42 starts, with a troubling 1.445 WHIP. Despite these struggles, the Guardians must see potential in him, hoping that the 27-year-old can turn his career around in Cleveland.