Daniel Bard
Daniel Paul Bard (born June 25, 1985) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Boston Red Sox from 2009 to 2013. In 2011, Bard set a Red Sox team record with 25 consecutive scoreless appearances. His highest velocity pitch was 102 miles per hour (164 km/h).[1] In subsequent years, Bard experienced a loss of control over his pitches, derailing his playing career. After pitching in only two major league games in 2013, he played for several minor league teams before retiring in 2017 to become a player mentor. In 2020, Bard returned as a player after regaining his control, earned a spot on the Rockies' MLB roster, and went on to win the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award as their closing pitcher.
Daniel Bard
31–35
3.74
475
66
College career[edit]
Bard attended Charlotte Christian School and then played college baseball at the University of North Carolina. At the midpoint of the 2004 season, Baseball America named Bard the top freshman pitcher in the U.S., and gave him Freshman All-America honors. For his season's work, Bard was named to the Baseball America All-Freshman second team, and was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball. He was Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) freshman of the year, and earned first-team all-conference honors. In 16 games pitched, Bard was 8–4 with a 3.88 earned run average (ERA); his eight wins tied the North Carolina Tar Heels baseball freshman record.
For the 2005 season, Bard was named preseason first-team All-America by Baseball America and was named preseason third-team All-America by Collegiate Baseball and by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Bard went 7–5 with a 4.22 ERA in 16 starts. and was third in the ACC in opponents' batting average at .219. He was named to the Roger Clemens Award watch list.
Bard was a second-team summer All-American selection in the 2005 Cape Cod League after a successful summer with the Wareham Gatemen, where he led the league in innings pitched and strikeouts, while finishing third in ERA. Bard and fellow North Carolina left-hander Andrew Miller were rated the top two prospects in the Cape Cod League.[2][3] Bard and Miller led North Carolina to the College World Series, where they lost to Oregon State, two games to one.[4] He finished his junior year with a 9–4 record and a 3.64 ERA in 17 starts. He earned ACC pitcher of the week honors twice during the 2006 season.
Professional career[edit]
Boston Red Sox[edit]
On June 6, 2006, Bard was selected in the first round (28th overall) of the 2006 MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox. He was selected as a compensation pick from the New York Yankees for the signing of Johnny Damon. On September 4, Bard signed with the team. He admitted he had enrolled in classes at the University of North Carolina as a backup plan in case a deal with the Red Sox was not finalized in time.[5][6] Bard had been previously selected in the 20th round with the 604th overall selection out of high school by the New York Yankees in the 2003 MLB draft, but did not sign.
International career[edit]
Bard played for Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) as a relief pitcher. He gave up 8 earned runs and injured José Altuve’s right thumb with a HBP during a quarterfinals matchup with Venezuela.
Pitching style[edit]
As of 2012, Bard threw four pitches. About half of his pitches thrown were four-seam fastballs in the range of 92–96 mph. He also featured a two-seam fastball at 93–97 miles per hour (150–156 km/h), slider at 79–83 miles per hour (127–134 km/h), and changeup at 86–89 miles per hour (138–143 km/h). He could touch and break 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) with the two-seamer. Bard's changeup was used almost exclusively against left-handed hitters. He used the slider against lefties as well, but much more so against right-handers.[38] Bard's velocity on all of his pitch types dipped several miles per hour in 2012, presumably as a result of his conversion from a relief pitcher to a starter. Bard said he was mildly surprised, but not alarmed by the drop: "I knew there’d be somewhat of a drop-off, velocity-wise, when I went to starting. I didn’t think it would be quite this big ... When I’m 93, 94, they’re just as late as they were on that 97. I think it’s the way I’ve been able to set it up. If I can just establish strike one a little more consistently, the velocity can be whatever it wants to be."[39]
During Bard's tenure with the Rockies, Bard has remained a power pitcher. In every year with the Rockies, Bard has utilized his slider more and more, to the extent that Bard throws a slider more often than sinker. Bard's fastball is considered more of a sinker, having lots of movement. Despite the increased slider usage, Bard's fastball velocity remains very high, and Bard remains capable of touching 100 miles per hour with the pitch. Bard occasionally throws a changeup, but only on rare occasion.
Personal life[edit]
Bard and his wife Adair married in 2010, have three children together, and reside in Greenville, South Carolina.[40][41]
His brother, Luke, played college baseball at Georgia Tech and was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.[42][43][44] Luke Bard made his major league debut for the Los Angeles Angels on March 31, 2018.[45] His cousin John Andreoli is also a professional baseball player;[46] he made his major league debut for the Seattle Mariners on May 23, 2018.[47]