"This is a kid you target early in the summer," Bridges said. "These are kids you follow. I saw him throw a bullpen the night I went to see him and I thought it was a pipe dream. I said there's no way this kid gets to us. But we were fortunate that some unfortunate things happened."
After establishing himself as one of the country's top high school pitchers during last summer's Pan American Championship, Allard missed most of his senior season at San Clemente (Calif.) High School because of a stress fracture in his back.
Since being cleared to begin throwing again a little more than a month ago, Allard has not experienced any discomfort in his back or prized left arm.