The Rome Braves were the toast of the organization in 2016. The club won the South Atlantic League title, and did it on the strength of a stellar starting rotation. Their exploits helped earn Rome the honor of being named Baseball America’s Minor League Team of the Year. I caught up with several members of that rotation at the team’s recent hot stove event. Among those on hand was 2015 first-rounder Kolby Allard. Though recovery from a back injury stalled him early, there was nothing that could slow him down in the second half last season. I discussed that and more with the talented young lefty. You can read all about Kolby Allard and the rest of the Rome rotation in my Braves’ Top 30 Prospects.

Grant McAuley: It was a very exciting to finish to your first full season in professional baseball. How do you describe the run that the Rome team went on and the praise that comes from winning a championship?

Kolby Allard: “Honestly, it’s just fun. Every day coming to the yard, we all just came out and did our thing. Obviously, everyone is on their separate programs during the day, but everyone was just excited to be there and happy to be there. That’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, baseball-wise. Even in high school and growing up, there’s the guys who don’t want to be there. They’re kind of a sour apple on the team, but last year, everyone just wanted to be there. Everyone had the same goal of winning. It was just such a winning atmosphere, something I’ve never been a part of before. I hope we can continue doing it for a very long time in Atlanta.”

GM: You were in rotation with some talented arms last year. How much of a motivating factor was that to go out there and have that friendly competition every day to at least meet the bar or perhaps raise the bar for your teammates?

KA: “It’s a lot of fun going out there with these guys. They’re all very talented people. To go out there and see Touki [Toussaint] shove one day and [Mike] Soroka shove the next, I wouldn’t call it pressure, but it’s like you said, a friendly competition. It’s just fun to go out and push each other every day to get better. I hope we can all stick together throughout the minor leagues and keep having success altogether.”

GM: For you personally, I know 2016 was kind of a building process to get yourself back on the mound every fifth day and comfortable. How are you feeling physically after that first full year, even though in the early stages you had the brakes pumped just a bit?

KA: “It was a little shaky in the first half, but once the training wheels came off a little bit, I started to throw the ball very well and continued to throw the ball very well. Coming into this year’s spring training, I feel very strong. I’ve put on almost 10 pounds, which I’m very excited about. I’ve been working hard this offseason and I feel like coming into spring training we can just hit it hard and hopefully start the year hot and keep it going.”

GM: Let me ask you about a high school teammate of yours, Lucas Herbert. How fun has it been as you’ve begun your professional career to have the opportunity to be together like that and have a little something familiar on this journey?

KA: “It’s been a lot of fun. He was one of my best friends all throughout high school. Obviously, not many people get to have their best friends be drafted with them, to the same team especially. It’s been a wild ride, but it’s been cool to have one of your best friends go through it with you. Of course, I’ve made some friends out of these clowns over here [his teammates crowded around him]. We’re all kind of best friends around here. Like I said earlier, every day going to the yard is a fun atmosphere and a winning atmosphere.”

GM: I know guys don’t like to throw statistical goals out there, but a lot of pitchers just look at throwing X amount of innings to reach a certain next level. Is there anything in particular you have in your mind right now as you come into spring training, other than obviously staying healthy?

KA: “Yeah, I’m not trying to put out any numbers or expectations. I’m just trying to do the whole day-by-day, start-by-start kind of thing. I don’t want to put any extra, added expectations on myself.”

My prospect profile for Kolby Allard (No. 3 in my Top 30 Braves Prospects):

Kolby Allard | LHP | Age: 19 | Acquired: 1st Round (14th), 2015 | ETA: 2019 Atlanta landed a potential top overall pick when they selected Kolby Allard with their first selection in the draft two summers ago. Though a back ailment cost Allard much of his senior season at San Clemente High School in California, the Braves ultimately decided that the potential reward simply outweighed risk of passing on the chance to select the talented left-hander. After all, this was an opportunity to get a pitcher midway through the first round who would likely have been drafted in the top three before the injury concerns. Allard fell to Atlanta with the 14th pick in the draft and signed for $3 million. After minor surgery for a stress reaction in his back shortened his pro debut with the GCL last year, Allard’s front of the rotation stuff was on display in 2016. The Braves held him back in the first half, but he went on to finish 8-3 with a 2.98 ERA and 25BB/95K in 87.2 IP across 16 starts between Danville and Rome. Allard didn’t stop there either, posting 12 shut-out frames in the playoffs as Rome won the South Atlantic League title. Like Soroka, Allard has tremendous mound presence, far beyond that of the average 19-year-old. He has the arsenal to give opposing lineups fits. Allard’s fastball sits in the low-90s and can run up to 94 mph with excellent movement. He pounds the bottom of the strike zone and utilizes a sharp curveball that is one of the best in the entire system. Add a changeup that has potential to become a plus pitch and Allard has all the makings of a front of the rotation starter. After proving himself healthy last season, he will head to the Florida State League in 2017.

Grant McAuley covers the Braves and MLB for 92-9 The Game. You can subscribe to the “Around The Big Leagues” podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Follow Grant on Twitter.