Daniel Bard

From SoSH

Contents 1 Scouting 2 Amateur Career 3 Minor League Career 4 Quotes 5 Trivia 6 External Links

Scouting

• Live arm with a smooth delivery, although he needs to work on keeping consistent a release point. His fastball looks effortless, and consistently hits 97-98 with decent command but minimal movement. Could probably touch 100 if he really reached back. Two-seamer shows a bit more break and sits in the low-to-mid 90s. Secondary pitches are good, but need a lot of refinement, including: (1) a high 80s cut fastball; (2) a high 70s curveball and (3) a circle change with some downward movement. Struggled through major control issues throughout the entire 2007 season, particularly with his curveball. In the 2007-08 off-season, Bard improved his curveball significantly, thought the control is still an issue Doesn't miss a lot of bats. Has a strong frame and a mature demeanor. May have some confidence issues. Bard took well to a bullpen role in the Hawaii League in 2007, and might see time as a reliever in 2008. ~ SoxProspects.com

• A tall, somewhat lanky power pitcher. Can touch 98 MPH on his fastball, but generally pitches at 92-94 MPH. Has relied principally on his fastball in college, but is said to possess a solid curve.

• Delivery is compared to Mark Prior, due to the way he can seemingly effortlessly throw his fastball in the high 90s, almost like he's playing catch.

Amateur Career

• Helped lead North Carolina to the 2006 College World Series finals. Finished 8-3 with a career-low 3.47 ERA in 2006, his junior season. Struck out a career-high 90 batters and walked just 33 in 85.2 innings. Went 7-5 his sophomore year and posted a 4.22 earned run average in 16 starts. Was third on the team with 77 strikeouts and 89.2 innings pitched. ACC Freshman of the Year in 2004. Posted an 8-4 record and ranked second among Carolina starters with a 3.88 ERA. A highly touted HS prospect, he was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 20th round of the 2003 Draft because he had committed to North Carolina.

• During the summer of 2005, he pitched for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod League, going 3-3 with a 1.25 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 65 innings. Led the league in strikeouts and was third in ERA. Was ranked as the 2nd best prospect in that league by Baseball America.

Minor League Career

• Rated by Baseball America as the 15th best prospect for the 2006 Draft. Bard was drafted in the first round of the 2006 Draft by the Red Sox. After lengthy discussions, he signed with the Sox on August 24, 2006, for a bonus of $1.55 million.

• To start his pro career, Bard has been a major disappointment for the Red Sox. He started 2007 in High-A Lancaster, but was demoted after just 13.1 innings when he allowed 15 ER to go along with 22 walks and 9 strikeouts.

• He was demoted to Greenville, and has gotten consistently worse since arriving there. He now pitched 62 innings and had a 6.39 ERA to go along with 56 walks and just 39 strikeouts.

Quotes

• Andrew Miller told the Boston Globe that his college teammate, Daniel Bard, throws harder than he does

  "He's a really good pitcher. He's got an unbelievable arm. He throws as hard as anybody you'll see. For a starter, he can get it up in the mid-to-upper 90s. It's real hard and his delivery is really free and easy. He doesn't muscle up anything. I talked to him while he was down in the instructional league and he was throwing 100 and 101 m.p.h. when he was down there and he was pretty excited about that," Miller said. "He throws harder than me. Not even a question," Miller added. Bard was the Bosox' first rounder in June.

Trivia

• Daniel Paul Bard is the son of Paul and Kathy Bard. He has two younger brothers, Jared and Luke.
• Bard majored in management and society at Carolina.
• Father played five years of minor league baseball in the Dodgers and Orioles organizations.
• Lists playing Uno as favorite way to pass time on bus trips.
• Modeled his game after Rob Dibble.

External Links

• Daniel Bard - Minor League Information Courtesy of Sox Prospects

• College Bio - Courtesy of Tarheel Blue.com