Projo Sox Blog

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox pitching prospect Daniel Bard tossed 40 pitches during a live BP session Saturday morning on the back field at the Player Development Complex. The 24-year-old right-hander was very impressive.

"I heard he threw the ball very well today," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who didn't watch the session. "He has a power arm that not too many guys in this camp, or in the league, posses. He's going to be a fun guy to watch. He has good breaking ball and had a real solid year last year. He kind of came into his own and he's going to be a fun guy to watch this spring."

The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder was the organization's second pick (28th overall) in the 2006 draft. He struggled his rookie season in 2007 at the Single-A level. He made five starts in Lancaster and posted a 0-2 record with a 10.13 ERA, allowing a total of 23 runs (15 earned) in 13 1/3 innings of work. He landed on disabled list with an elbow strain.

When he returned from the DL he was transferred to Greenville and made 17 starts, posting a 3-5 record with a 6.42 ERA.

Despite his struggles, Bard impressed people in the organization in 2008.

He began the season in Greenville as a reliever and in nine appearances posted a 1-0 record with a 1.10 ERA in 16 1/3 innings. He was promoted to Double-A Portland and compiled a 4-1 record with a 1.99 ERA in 31 games (49 2/3 innings).

His mechanics are so fluid that when the opposition has a gun on him, scouts think it'll read in the upper 80s when in fact Bard's tossing in the high 90s. He can also reach100 MPH on the gun when he really reaches back.

"I thought he threw the ball really well," said Red Sox catcher Josh Bard, who is not related. "Obviously he's a pretty special talent. He's got one of those one-in-a-million arms and ultimately he looks like a guy who is eager to learn. I think he's got a bright future ahead of him. It's hard to see when you have a live BP session and that's' the first time I've seen him. Yeah, stuff-wise he's extremely talented.

"He seems like a hard worker. I know they like him a lot and they should. Time and truth will tell, just like the rest of us."

This is Daniel Bard's first big-league camp and understandably he's a little nervous. The Texas native and Florida resident believes his second session on Saturday was better than his first earlier in the week.

"I felt good," he said. "It was better than my first outing and that's all I can ask for. My command was definitely better."

During his first session he admitted to having some jitters with a little extra adrenaline rush, but on Saturday he was more relaxed and it showed.

Being in big-league camp for the first time, Bard is trying to impress but at the same time he doesn't want to do too much.

"It's a fine line," he said. "I've tried to use the adrenaline rush, the same you get in a game, but I'm sure it's a little more intense in the big leagues. I'm just trying to make a good first impression."

 Tags  Daniel Bard Red Sox spring training

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