In 2017 [autotag]Daniel Bard[/autotag] retired from the mound, joining the Arizona Diamondbacks as a franchise player mentor. Five years later, the former Tar Heel finds himself having another solid season after securing his 20th save of the season for the Colorado Rockies.
Bard joined the Rockies back in 2017 after a short retirement period…what would follow is the ultimate comeback story. Bard spent 2,646 days off the major league mound, and now the 37-year-old has redefined the pitch that got him drafted in the first round of the 2006 MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox.
This season Bard has 20 saves and 42 strikeouts with an ERA of 2.02.
Daniel Bard should be an All-Star. pic.twitter.com/bjiDZhXqvF
— Purple Row (@PurpleRow) July 16, 2022
While Bard did not crack the NL All-Star team this year, his season is still one worth noting. And he could be a valuable piece at the trade deadline for a contender as well.
Bard is a free agent at the end of the year and while the Rockies have said they don’t have immediate plans to trade him, getting some valuable pieces back while allowing Bard to pitch for a contender would make sense.
He’s a name to watch at the deadline here in a few weeks.
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