Luke Bard
Bard with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2022
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1990-11-13) November 13, 1990 (age 33)
Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
March 31, 2018, for the Los Angeles Angels
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Win–loss record4–4
Earned run average4.44
Strikeouts68
Teams

Luke Francis Bard (born November 13, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees.

Career

Amateur career

Bard attended Charlotte Christian School in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he played college baseball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.[1] In 2010 and 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2][3]

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins selected Bard in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.[4][5] He signed and made his professional debut that same year with the Gulf Coast League Twins before being reassigned to the Elizabethton Twins. In seven games between the two teams, he posted a 3.86 ERA. In 2013, he pitched for the GCL Twins, Elizabethton, and the Fort Myers Miracle, going 1–0 with a 3.65 ERA in 12+1⁄3 total innings pitched between the three teams. He missed 2014 and 2015 due to injury. Bard returned in 2016 and he spent the season with Fort Myers and the Chattanooga Lookouts, going 3–1 with a 3.74 ERA in 44 relief appearances. In 2017, he was 4–3 with a 2.76 ERA in 65+1⁄3 innings pitched between the Lookouts and Rochester Red Wings.[6]

Los Angeles Angels

The Angels selected Bard in the Rule 5 draft after the 2017 season.[7] He made the Angels' Opening Day 25-man roster,[8] and made his major league debut on March 31.

After he was designated for assignment by the Angels, Bard was returned to the Twins on April 27.[9]

On February 16, 2019, Bard signed a minor-league contract with the Los Angeles Angels.[10] He made the team out of spring training and had his contract purchased before the season. He was sent down multiple times to the minors through the whole season, appearing in only 32 games for the Angels. Bard pitched in 5+1⁄3 innings for the Angels in 2020, registering a 6.75 ERA and seven strikeouts.[11]

On March 29, 2021, Bard was placed on the 60-day injured list with a hip injury.[12] On April 8, 2021, it was announced that Bard would undergo season-ending hip surgery.[13] Bard had hip resurfacing surgery on his right hip on May 20, 2021, at the Hospital for Special Surgery. On October 23, 2021, Bard elected free agency.[14]

Tampa Bay Rays

On March 24, 2022, Bard signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.[15] On May 18, Bard was selected to the 40-man roster and immediately optioned to the Triple-A Durham Bulls.[16]

Bard pitched for Durham until he was called up by Rays on June 7. The next evening he made his major league return with a one-hit, two-strikeout two-inning outing versus the St. Louis Cardinals.[17] On August 1, 2022, the Rays designated Bard for assignment.[18]

New York Yankees

On August 5, 2022, the New York Yankees claimed Bard off of waivers and assigned him to Triple–A.[19] The Yankees promoted him to the major leagues on August 21.[20] On September 6, Bard was designated for assignment, after only one appearance for the Yankees in which he threw a scoreless inning. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on September 10.[21] On October 24, Bard elected free agency.

Toronto Blue Jays

On February 11, 2023, Bard signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays organization that included a non-roster invitation to spring training.[22] In 16 games (6 starts) for the Triple–A Buffalo Bisons, he registered a 6.15 ERA with 29 strikeouts and 1 save in 26+1⁄3 innings of work. Bard was released by Toronto on June 5.[23]

Personal life

Bard's older brother, Daniel, has also played in the major leagues.[4] His cousin, John Andreoli, is also a professional baseball player for the Minnesota Twins organization.[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ Edwards, Jay (May 11, 2011). "Athlete of the week: Bard siblings are all taking their turn at the plate". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  2. ^ "#24 Luke Bard - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "#24 Luke Bard - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Edwards, Jay (May 11, 2011). "Athlete of the week: Bard siblings are all taking their turn at the plate". Charlotteobserver.com. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  5. ^ "Georgia Tech's Bard selected 42nd overall". Ajc.com. June 6, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  6. ^ "Luke Bard Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  7. ^ DiGiovanna, Mike (March 15, 2018). "Luke Bard hopes to go from Rule V to option one in the Angels' bullpen". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  8. ^ Jeff Miller (March 31, 2018). "Angels reliever Luke Bard still adapting to big-league life". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  9. ^ "Rule 5 Draft selection Bard returns to Twins". MLB.com.
  10. ^ Eddy, Matt (February 26, 2019). "Minor League Transactions: Feb 16 - Feb 22". Baseball America. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  11. ^ "2020 Angels in review: Luke Bard". December 30, 2020.
  12. ^ "Angels to Sign Steve Cishek, Tony Watson". March 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "AL Injury Notes: Astros, L. Bard, Ray, Pinder". MLB Trade Rumors. April 8, 2021.
  14. ^ "Angels' Luke Bard: Clears waivers". October 22, 2021.
  15. ^ "Rays Sign Luke Bard". March 24, 2022.
  16. ^ "Rays' Luke Bard: Added to roster and optioned". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  17. ^ "Luke Bard: Makes Rays debut". Sports Illustrated Tampa Bay Rays Scoop News, Analysis and More.
  18. ^ "Rays acquire lefty reliever Garrett Cleavinger from Dodgers". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Associated Press. August 1, 2022. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
  19. ^ Goodman, Max (August 5, 2022). "New York Yankees Claim Former Tampa Bay Rays Reliever Luke Bard Off Waivers - Sports Illustrated NY Yankees News, Analysis and More". Si.com. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  20. ^ "Slumping Yankees tweak bullpen, summon in Luke Bard, shut down Albert Abreu". nj.com. August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  21. ^ "Yankees' Luke Bard: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. September 10, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  22. ^ "Blue Jays' Luke Bard: Inks NRI deal with Toronto". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  23. ^ "Transactions".
  24. ^ "Shrewsbury's Andreoli hot at the plate and on the bases for the Daytona Cubs". The Boston Globe. July 11, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2017.

External links

2012 Major League Baseball draft first round selections
Minnesota Twins first-round draft picks
Categories