Former Red Sox Hurler Retires Following Failed Comeback

Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Daniel Bard has decided to end his latest comeback bid after announcing his retirement on Friday. Bard, who was signed to a minor league contract by the Seattle Mariners in June, appeared in seven games in Seattle’s minor league system before opting to end his playing career.

After making his debut with the Red Sox in 2009 at age 24, Bard quickly became then-manager Terry Francona’s trusted setup man in a Boston bullpen that also featured Red Sox all-time saves leader Jonathan Papelbon. A move to the starting rotation in 2012 proved to be a disaster for the right-hander. After losing his ability to throw strikes, Bard found himself designated for assignment in September 2013.

Following a succession of minor league deals signed with the Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals, Bard’s first retirement from baseball came in 2017 at the age of 32 after failing to earn another Major League call-up.

That changed in 2020, when Bard rediscovered his mental focus and was signed by the Colorado Rockies after throwing a bullpen session in front of MLB scouts. He would go on to win the National League’s Comeback Player of the Year award after going 4-2 with a 3.65 ERA and six saves in 23 appearances.

Bard would save an additional 55 games for Colorado between 2021 and 2023 before his previous control problems made a return. After suffering a pair of injuries in spring training last year, Bard would miss the entire 2024 season before becoming a free agent again last winter.

When the Boston Red Sox selected right-handed pitcher Bard in the first round of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft, the hard throwing University of North Carolina product looked poised to become part of a young and talented Red Sox rotation of the future alongside fellow top pitching prospect Jon Lester.

In 211 games with the Red Sox, Bard was 10-19 with a 3.67 ERA and amassed 252 strikeouts and five saves in 257 1/3 innings.