The Cleveland Guardians’ quest for more bullpen continues, with just days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Goodyear, Arizona. That search brought them back to a familiar face and a key piece of Cleveland’s stellar second-half reliever core from a year ago.
The organization announced on Monday that it had re-signed LHP Kolby Allard to a Minor League contract with a non-roster invitation to 2026 Major League Spring Training camp.
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After being a failed first-round pick from the 2015 draft, Allard bounced around the league, making appearances with the Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, and Philadelphia Phillies, until he found a home with the Guardians last season.
Allard was initially signed to a minor league deal last offseason and made his Cleveland debut on April 26.
The left-hander quickly found a role with the Guardians as an innings eater and depth piece, but still logged a 2.63 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP in 33 appearances. Allard even made two spot starts for Cleveland in what turned out to be bullpen games.
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To nitpick some of Allard’s numbers, he didn’t do a great job generating a ton of swing-and-miss, with his whiff-rate being 19.6 percent, and his strikeout-rate finishing as 15.8 percent. However, Allard did generate a weak contact tone, which gave his defense an opportunity to make plays, which they did.
Sep 20, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Kolby Allard (49) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the eighth inning of game one of a double header at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
When the Guardians needed it most, Allard even stepped up for the Guardians in the clutch, which included a September where he didn’t allow a run in 8.1 innings of work. Allard’s best outing of the season came against the Detroit Tigers on September 18, pitching a scoreless inning after not seeing the mound for 14 straight days.
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That’s the perfect example of the veteran pitcher doing whatever is needed to help the team win.
Even though Allard is singing a Minor League deal with the Guardians, and isn’t guaranteed a spot on the Major League roster at any point throughout the year, it would be shocking if he didn’t make his way back up to the big leagues with the team.
Teams go through plenty of pitchers throughout the course of a season, and Allard has already proven that he can help the Guardians in any capacity or role he’s asked to do.
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