Bard (elbow) is back with the team, rehabbing in Denver when the Rockies have homestands, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Bard is out for the remainder of the 2024 season while he recovers from right flexor tendon surgery, but the 38-year-old wants to make a comeback in 2025. After some self-reflection, Bard came to the conclusion that he wants to see if he's "got it next spring." The former closer for Colorado will be a free agent after this season and it's currently unclear when exactly he'll be able to return to the mound in a full capacity.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Rockies transferred Bard (elbow) to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
The move comes with Bard undergoing right flexor tendon surgery on his right elbow. With Bard set to miss the rest of the season, the Rockies selected the contract of southpaw Ty Blach from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Will miss rest of season
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Bard (knee) will undergo right flexor tendon surgery and miss the rest of the 2024 season, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Bard started the season on the 15-day injured list while rehabbing from a cleanup procedure on his left knee in mid-February. The surgery on his right elbow will put Bard on the shelf for the rest of the season, and it could be his last year with the Rockies as the 38-year-old is a free agent in 2025. Justin Lawrence is currently the primary option for saves in a very volatile Colorado bullpen.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Opens season on IL
Rotowire
The Rockies placed Bard (knee) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Bard missed the entirety of spring training after undergoing a cleanup procedure on his left knee in mid-February. According to MLB.com, the right-hander also received platelet-rich plasma injections in his forearm this offseason, but working his way back from the knee procedure seems to be the veteran reliever's chief concern. Bard had been scheduled to resume throwing bullpen sessions this week, and he could be ready to face hitters at some point in the first or second week of April before heading out on a rehab assignment. Heading into spring training, he was expected to factor into the Rockies' unsettled closer picture, but Justin Lawrence and Tyler Kinley now look to be the top candidates for saves.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Surgery less invasive than expected
Rotowire
Bard did not need to have the meniscus repaired as initially expected during his arthroscopic left knee surgery Wednesday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
He merely had a cleanup performed instead, which has shortened his timetable to return from 5-to-7 weeks down to four weeks. A stint on the injured list still seems likely for Bard, but it might now be a relatively short one. Once healthy, the 38-year-old could eventually be in the mix for saves in Colorado's bullpen.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Requires meniscus surgery
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Bard (forearm) will undergo arthroscopic surgery Wednesday to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and is expected to begin the regular season on the injured list, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Bard finished 2023 on the IL with a flexor strain in his right forearm and will begin 2024 in the same fashion after he suffered a torn meniscus in a throwing session just over a week ago. The 38-year-old had a 4.56 ERA and 47:49 K:BB in 49.1 innings last season and was expected to compete for the closer role during spring training. A projected 5-to-7-week recovery timeline from surgery means Bard likely won't be game ready until April.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Moves to injured list
Rotowire
Bard was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a right flexor strain, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
The veteran right-hander presumably picked up the injury Tuesday versus the Dodgers when he allowed a run on a hit and two walks over one inning. Bard finished this season with a 4.56 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 47:49 K:BB in 49.1 innings and is under contract for 2024 at $9.5 million.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Back from injured list
Rotowire
Bard (forearm) was activated from the injured list Monday, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.
Bard landed on the injured list earlier this month, but he will rejoin Colorado's bullpen just a couple days after he was first eligible to do so. He was tagged for 13 runs -- eight earned -- in 4.0 innings over his last five appearances with the Rockies, so it seems unlikely he will join the late-inning mix, even with fellow reliever Justin Lawrence tending to an ankle injury.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Faces hitters
Rotowire
Bard (forearm) threw a live batting practice Friday, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.
Bard resumed throwing Sept. 5 -- two days after he landed on the injured list with right forearm fatigue -- and has now progressed to facing live hitters. The right-hander likely won't get activated from the IL when first eligible Monday, but manager Bud Black said he expects Bard to return before the end of the season.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Resumes throwing
Rotowire
Bard (forearm) threw a bullpen session Sept. 5, MLB.com reports.
Bard landed on the injured list Sept. 3, but he felt well enough to throw only a few days later. He is hoping to return in time to make three or four more appearances this season, though the team has yet to provide a clear timeline for his potential activation.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Blows save Sunday
Rotowire
Bard allowed two runs on a hit, two walks and hit-by-pitch in one inning, taking a blown save Sunday versus the Yankees.
Bard has worked his way back into high-leverage mix, but he threw just seven of 18 pitches for strikes in this sloppy outing. The Rockies were ultimately able to get the win in the 11th inning. He's allowed multiple runs in three of his last nine appearances, making him a somewhat risky reliever in fantasy. For the season, he's at a 2.20 ERA despite a 1.38 WHIP and 28:26 K:BB through 32.2 innings. He's added a save and three holds.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Picks up first save
Rotowire
Bard pitched a scoreless ninth inning and didn't allow a baserunner to earn the save Friday against the Giants.
Bard has been pitching in high-leverage situations of late, as he's picked up two holds and now his first save of the season in his last five appearances. He's allowed two earned runs in that span, though he has only two strikeouts compared to three walks. However, Bard's usage Friday suggests he could continue to see save opportunities, as Justin Lawrence -- the presumptive closer -- pitched the eighth inning.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Takes first loss
Rotowire
Bard (3-1) allowed two earned runs on two walks and three hits while striking out one to take the loss Wednesday against the Reds.
Bard entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with the score knotted at 3-3. He served up a two-run home run to the third batter he faced and ultimately escaped further damage by striking out TJ Friedl with the bases loaded. Bard has walked a tightrope most of the season -- indicated by his 1.52 WHIP and 8.0 BB/9 -- but has still managed to maintain a 1.52 ERA. As long as he continues to let runners on base at that clip, he'll likely be on the outside looking in for save opportunities.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Pitches in ninth inning
Rotowire
Bard (3-0) didn't allow a baserunner and struck out one in the ninth inning to earn the win Tuesday against the Red Sox.
Bard entered the game in the ninth inning with the score knotted at 4-4, and he had little trouble putting Boston's lineup away in order. The Rockies' closer situation remains murky, as Justin Lawrence entered the game in the eighth frame while Pierce Johnson ultimately picked up an extra-inning save. Manager Bud Black suggested that Johnson -- the team's primary closer this season -- would lose save opportunities moving forward, though it's been difficult to decipher the team's usage of its alternative options. Bard appears to have entered the mix for closer duties, but he has a concerning 18:19 K:BB and 1.45 WHIP despite maintaining a 0.87 ERA across 20.2 innings this season.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Pitching in low-leverage situations
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Bard allowed one hit and no runs across two-thirds of an inning Wednesday against the Brewers.
The veteran right-hander has made five appearances since returning from the injured list April 19. He has yet to allow an earned run across five frames, though he also has just a 3:2 K:BB. Most importantly, Bard has pitched primarily in low-leverage situations and does not appear to be a contender for saves at this point. Pierce Johnson leads the team with four saves, with just one of those coming since Bard returned from the IL.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Comes off injured list
Rotowire
The Rockies reinstated Bard (personal) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Bard returns to the Rockies after he was placed on the injured list hours before Opening Day after experiencing anxiety and struggling with command in both spring training and the World Baseball Classic. The right-hander has operated as the closer for the Rockies over the last two seasons, and while he should return to that role eventually, he may work in a few low-leverage situations to begin his 2023 campaign as he gets eased back in from the three-week absence. Bard looked sharp during his lone rehab outing at Triple-A Albuquerque over the weekend, striking out three of the four batters he faced over a clean inning of relief.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Could be activated Tuesday
Rotowire
Bard (personal) rejoined the Rockies in Denver on Monday and could be activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Pirates, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Bard was a surprise addition to the 15-day IL in the hours leading up to Opening Day after he had experienced anxiety and struggled with his command during the Cactus League and the World Baseball Classic, but he appears to be in a better spot both physically and mentally nearly three weeks later. At least from a performance standpoint, Bard looked to be dialed in during his rehab outing at Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday, when he recorded three punchouts and allowed one hit and no walks over a scoreless 23-pitch, 17-strike inning. Whenever Bard is activated from the IL, he could be eased back in with a low-leverage outing or two, but he'll likely supplant Pierce Johnson as the team's preferred closer sooner rather than later.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Starting rehab stint
Rotowire
Bard (personal) reported to Triple-A Albuquerque to begin a rehab assignment Sunday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander has been unavailable to begin the season due to anxiety issues, but he appears to closing in on his return from the injured list. If Bard feels good while pitching for the Isotopes, he could rejoin the Rockies sometime this week.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: Faces live hitters
Rotowire
Bard (personal) faced live hitters Tuesday for the first time since landing on the injured list March 30, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.
Bard remains on the 15-day injured list while he works through anxiety, but he's staying ready as part of a throwing progression and could perhaps feel well enough mentally to be activated before the end of April. Pierce Johnson has been serving as Colorado's primary closer in Bard's absence.
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Rockies' Daniel Bard: With team, throws side session
Rotowire
Bard, who is currently on the 15-day injured list while he experiences anxiety, remains with the Rockies and threw a bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.
While Rockies manager Bud Black didn't offer a hint about when Bard might be back from the IL, the skipper noted that the right-hander's fastball reached 96 miles per hour in the session, only a couple ticks behind his average velocity in 2022. Black didn't go into specifics about how Bard's pitches looked from a control and command standpoint, however, which is noteworthy after the Rockies' projected closer struggled with locating his offerings and repeating his delivery during spring training and the World Baseball Classic. Bard notably battled the "yips" for a significant chunk of the seasons in his late 20s and early 30s before resurfacing in the majors in 2020 as a 35-year-old and becoming the Rockies' closer, so the organization is likely to proceed slowly with reintegrating him into games until both he and the coaching staff feel he's ready for the challenge. In Bard's absence, Pierce Johnson has converted the Rockies' lone save opportunity to date.
