UNC Baseball: Daniel Bard earns another opportunity in Colorado

The former UNC baseball standout’s comeback trail will continue in Colorado for at least another season.

Prior to the upcoming Major League Baseball lockout period, ball clubs around the league have been zeroed in on making some moves before organizations are restricted from doing so.

For the Colorado Rockies, they secured the return of one of their more reliable relief pitchers for the 2022 season.

According to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic, the Rockies have agreed to a one-year, $4.4 million deal with former UNC baseball standout Daniel Bard. The deal allows both sides to avoid the final year of Bard’s arbitration eligibility.

Bard’s return to the mound has been one of the more remarkable stories in all of Major League Baseball. The right-hander left the game for an extended period of time, but ultimately decided to come back in hopes of pitching on a big league mound again.

The Rockies took a chance on Bard, and they’ve certainly reaped the benefits of it. The former first round pick has appeared in 90 games over the last two seasons for Colorado, and has been utilized in multiple roles throughout the team’s bullpen. After closing out six games during the 2020 season, Bard served in the closer’s role once again, converting 20 save opportunities in the process.

This might seem like a minor move, but it is an important one for the Rockies organization. As they work to reshape their roster, Bard will continue to be a steady bullpen presence as they look towards the future in hopes of being competitive once again.

Continue to follow the Keeping It Heel team for all the latest news and updates regarding Daniel Bard and the rest of the UNC baseball program.