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| (Texas Rangers Photo) |
There was a time when
Daniel Bard was viewed as the heir apparent to then-closer
Jonathan Papelbon. As an elite set-up man who routinely hit triple digits on radar guns, Bard was expected to be a productive member of the Red Sox pitching staff for years to come. Then, in 2012, injuries began to cause bizarre wildness. Physical issues morphed into psychological ones—and on top of everything, the Red Sox jerked him around between starting and relieving to ultimately ruin him. A year ago, Bard had surgery to repair a serious shoulder injury,
and he now reports that he feels better than ever. As a member of the Texas Rangers (after a brief flirtation with
Theo Epstein in Chicago), Bard is ready to give it another try. We wish him all the best.
