LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Had Kolby Allard not made those three forgettable Major League appearances last year, he may still be regarded as one of baseball’s top prospects. But the 21-year-old Braves southpaw believes the humbling experience may prove beneficial as he attempts to prove he still has a bright future.

“When I was up at the top [of the prospect rankings], it really didn’t mean too much to me,” Allard said. “Wherever I am now, I really haven’t paid much attention to it. I’m more worried about what the guys in here think and what the [coaches] think. I think if it wasn’t for a couple outings where I didn’t have my 'A' stuff in the big leagues, it wouldn’t be an issue.”

Given Allard posted a 2.72 ERA over the 19 starts made as a 20-year-old at Triple-A last year, he might be correct. But MLB Pipeline’s decision to rank him as the game’s 58th-best prospect before the start of the 2018 season and then exclude him from this year’s preseason Top 100 list was an understandable reaction to the fact the young lefty looked overmatched in the big leagues.

Still a little more than five months from his 22nd birthday, Allard will gain a fresh start Saturday afternoon, when he pitches in the Braves’ Grapefruit League season opener against the Mets in Port St. Lucie.

A year ago, Allard would have been a likely candidate to start the game. But the start instead will be given to Touki Toussaint, a fellow former first-round Draft pick who resuscitated his prospect status last season. The 22-year-old Toussaint was not among MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects entering the 2018 season. He’ll enter this season ranked 50th.

“Though it didn’t go as I might have liked last year, it’s definitely something to build on,” Allard said. “It was the first time I’ve struggled back to back to back in my career. It might be a really good thing: I might come back stronger and use what I learned last year and hopefully build a really strong year.”

Allard was optioned back to Gwinnett after he allowed nine hits and five runs (four earned) over five innings against the Marlins in his July 31 MLB debut. When he was recalled a week later and allowed four runs over two innings in a relief appearance against the Nationals, it was apparent he was not ready for the Majors. His only other appearance for Atlanta came on Aug. 17, when he allowed three runs in one inning of mop-up duty against the Rockies.

“Looking back at it during this offseason, I recognized there were a lot of things I could have done better,” Allard said. “That’s not just executing pitches. It’s just slowing the game down, realizing what I’m trying to do and realizing what [opponents] are trying to do to me. I think one of the biggest things I think can help me make strides is just slowing the game down.”

Fast start

The Braves’ regulars will work out at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex while many of the reserves fill the lineup for the games that will be played Saturday against the Mets and Sunday against the Astros in West Palm Beach.

Because the Braves opted to schedule their report dates later than any other MLB club this year, they ended up having just two full-squad workouts before the Grapefruit League season opener.

“The guys are ready, but you’re used to being here longer before you get started,” manager Brian Snitker said. “I’m glad we are [going to start playing games]. I’m excited about seeing these guys. I think it will be a good time to get going.”

Up Next

Charlie Culberson, Johan Camargo, Cristian Pache, Adam Duvall and Austin Riley are among the notable position players scheduled to be in the lineup when Toussaint starts Saturday’s game in Port St. Lucie. MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects list includes Pache (37th), Riley (38th) and Toussaint (50th).Tune in live to MLB.TV for the first pitch at 1:10 p.m. ET.