Former pitcher Daniel Bard announced his retirement from professional baseball on Friday, concluding a brief comeback attempt with the Seattle Mariners organization. Bard had signed a minor league contract with Seattle in June and appeared in seven games before ending his playing career.
His career was famously defined by a remarkable resurgence with the Colorado Rockies. After being out of baseball for several years, Bard returned in 2020 and won the National League’s Comeback Player of the Year award, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.65 ERA and six saves. He became Colorado’s closer, accumulating 55 more saves between 2021 and 2023 before his previous control issues returned, leading to his eventual departure.
This successful comeback followed his first retirement in 2017. After his initial struggles, Bard signed minor league contracts with the Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals but failed to return to the majors at that time.
Bard began his career with the Boston Red Sox after being selected in the first round of the 2006 MLB draft. He debuted in 2009 and quickly became one of the league’s most effective setup relievers, pitching alongside closer Jonathan Papelbon. An ill-fated transition to the starting rotation in 2012 marked the beginning of severe control problems, and the Red Sox designated him for assignment in September 2013.
In 211 appearances with Boston, Bard compiled a 10-19 record with a 3.67 ERA, five saves, and 252 strikeouts in 257.1 innings.
Source link
