ESPN News Services6:51 PM ET2 Minute Read
Colorado Rockies closer Daniel Bard will open the season due to fear on the injury list.
“From my experience, knowing myself, I think the best approach is to just take a step back, take your time to work through things, get it right,” Bard told MLB.com on Thursday .
Bard, 37, was a member of Team USA at the just-concluded World Baseball Classic, but control problems in a game against Venezuela included an inside pitch on Jose Altuve, which broke the hand of the Houston Astros second baseman.
Bard was a standout assist for the Boston Red Sox early in his career, posting a 1.93 ERA in 73 games in his second major league season in 2010. But control issues emerged, and after two games in 2013 he retired from the game.
“It’s hard to admit. But I’ve been through it before,” Bard told reporters Thursday, adding that he’s grateful to the Rockies for understanding and accepting his situation.
The Rockies gave Bard a look in spring 2020 training, and he made the list as he returned to his stellar manner last season when he had a 1.79 ERA in 57 games and on the National’s MVP vote League finished 16th.
But in the fifth inning for Team USA against Venezuela, Bard gave up a walk and a single, threw a wild pitch, hit Altuve and gave up a walk to force a run. He ended up being charged with four runs on a hit and two walks without recording an out.
“I can’t speak for Daniel because I’m only observing from 3,000 miles away, but I think he may have been caught right now,” Rockies manager Bud Black said after the outing. “He’s representing his country in front of a big audience. He’s only had three or four games with us this spring and Daniel has a lot of moving parts in his delivery. He was just out of balance.”
Jake Bird, 27, takes Bard’s place on the list. Bird made his major league debut last season, going 2-4 in 38 appearances with a 4.91 ERA.
Third baseman Mike Moustakas, who signed a minor-league contract with Colorado late in the spring, was also named to the Rockies’ opening-day roster.
Portal contributed to this report.