Daniel Bard
Right-hander Daniel Bard could throw about as hard as anyone and I pictured him as the Red Sox closer for possibly well into the second decade of the 21st century. As the Red Sox years slipped by, so did Bard’s fastball velocity from 97.8 MPH in 2010 to 93.4 in 2013. In 2012 the future issue was clear with a 6.5 BB/9 against a 5.8 K/9.
Bard had a brief winter league season in Puerto Rico with a three-game stint and an 189.00 ERA. Nine walks and eight runs in 0.1 innings. The next season at Hickory in the South Atlantic League Bard lowered his ERA to 175.00.
Bard started 2017 with Double-A Springfield – a Cardinals minor league team. Bard “found” his control with just 19 walks in 8.2 innings pitched (sarcasm meter off). The Cards have released him, but the New York Mets have signed him. Good luck.