Bard to miss '24 season with right elbow flexor tendon surgery

TORONTO -- Rockies right-handed pitcher Daniel Bard is headed for season-ending surgery on his right elbow flexor tendon, which refused to respond when he attempted to ramp up his throwing during extended spring training in Scottsdale, Ariz. This could be seen as a cruel twist to his inspiring comeback story.

But maybe not.

Bard is 38 and staring at a year of rehab that he knows may or may not get him back to a mound. But he hasn’t ruled out another against-the-odds return -- arm and family permitting.

“I’ve come back from a lot harder things,” Bard said Friday from behind the wheel of his truck on a drive from Scottsdale to Denver. “I know this is not an automatic thing. Not everybody gets back from a surgery like this.

“But I’m going to go through the rehab, see how it goes, try to learn from it and see where I'm at. I might feel great, but my family might be ready to have me at home, and that's fine, too.”

Hardly anyone comes back from more than seven calendar years out of the Majors because of control issues and becomes a top closer, as Bard did. But the current injury comes after a long period of problems with the arm, as well as a right knee cleanup procedure early in Spring Training.

Bard began this season on the 15-day injured list, officially because of a right knee cleanup procedure that he underwent at the beginning of Spring Training. However, Bard’s right elbow/forearm area bothered him throughout last season, and he underwent three PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections after last season to aid the healing.

He and the Rockies believed the healing and rehab of the knee would also give his arm time to reach full strength. But pain increased between sessions, and finally crept into his throwing.

“The last bullpen was supposed to be 20 pitches,” Bard said. “I got through about eight and it was just killing me. It was getting worse. It was getting worse and worse each time off the mound, so I knew something wasn't right.”

A review of Bard’s redemption story is a window into why he isn’t automatically calling it quits.

Bard pitched for the Red Sox, at times with distinction, 2009-13. But after two appearances in ‘13, Bard saw control issues push him out of the Majors. He even accepted a job as a mental skills professional for the Diamondbacks' organization.

However, Bard felt he had more baseball in him and signed a Minor League contract with the Rockies in 2020. Not only did he make the team, but his performance earned him National League Comeback Player of the Year and the prestigious Tony Conigliaro Award. Bard’s success continued with 54 combined saves between 2021-22.

As the Rockies fell out of contention during the ‘22 season and other teams showed interest in acquiring Bard, he reached a two-year, $19 million contract extension with the Rockies that would take him through this season. However, the first signs of forearm/elbow issues showed up toward the end of the ‘22 season.

A rocky performance in last year’s World Baseball Classic for Team USA and the fact his velocity never reached the upper 90s of the past led to a difficult ‘23 season. Bard went to the IL three times -- with anxiety to start the season, and twice more with right forearm issues.

As this season started, the Rockies hoped to handle the ninth inning with others -- Justin Lawrence and Tyler Kinley were the top candidates -- until Bard could return.

“We were hoping for the bounce-back,” Black said. “He was one of the top closers in ‘22 and even ‘21. He pitched really, really well, he had the desire to be a Rockie and signed the contract. He had potentially other offers coming. It was something that we looked forward to, for Daniel to be a big part of our bullpen.”

Bard hopes there is a Major League mound in his future.

“Technically, it’s an optional surgery,” Bard said. “I can’t pitch without it. I could probably get through a normal life pretty fine with what’s going on. I’m sure it would get scarred down over time.

“But I just decided that it’s just about a 12-month rehab. That puts me at May 1 next year being able to hopefully pitch again. I’m going to rehab it as if I’m going to play again, see where we’re at next winter, next spring, see if I want to give it another go.”