Bard Selected To Team USA For World Baseball Classic
February 9, 2023 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Former Tar Heel right-handed pitcher Daniel Bard was selected to Team USA's 30-man roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic on Thursday, as announced by USA Baseball.
Bard, a three-year letterman at UNC from 2004-06, is donning the Stars and Stripes for the third time as player. He was a member of the 2004 U.S. Collegiate National Team following his freshman year at UNC. He struck out eight in 11 innings to help Team USA win gold at the FISU World University Championships in Taiwan.
Bard was also a member of the 2003 18U U.S. National Team that won a silver medal at the Pan Am Cup in Curacao. He posted a 1-1 record and a 1.59 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 11.1 innings during the tournament.
Following his junior year at UNC, Bard was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his major league debut in 2009 and pitched in the organization for five years. Bard officially retired in 2017 to become a player mentor.
After not pitching in the major leagues for seven years, Bard returned to the mound in 2020 as a member of the Colorado Rockies and was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year. He posted a 4-2 record with six saves in 24.2 innings pitched with 27 strikeouts against just 10 walks.
This past season Bard emerged as one of the top pitchers in the NL, finishing with a 6-4 record and an ERA of 1.79 despite Denver's high altitude. He appeared in 57 games and converted 34 of 37 save opportunities in 60 innings pitched.
USA Baseball's World Baseball Classic team will begin its title defense with first-round games as part of Pool C at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. The U.S. will open the tournament against Great Britain at 9 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, March 11, before taking on Mexico, Canada, and Colombia on March 12, 13, and 15, respectively. The Pool C winner and runner-up will advance to the quarterfinals in Miami from March 17–18 and will match-up against the winner and runner-up of Pool D.
The semifinals and finals will take place at loanDepot park in Miami from March 19–21.
Bard, a three-year letterman at UNC from 2004-06, is donning the Stars and Stripes for the third time as player. He was a member of the 2004 U.S. Collegiate National Team following his freshman year at UNC. He struck out eight in 11 innings to help Team USA win gold at the FISU World University Championships in Taiwan.
Bard was also a member of the 2003 18U U.S. National Team that won a silver medal at the Pan Am Cup in Curacao. He posted a 1-1 record and a 1.59 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 11.1 innings during the tournament.
Following his junior year at UNC, Bard was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his major league debut in 2009 and pitched in the organization for five years. Bard officially retired in 2017 to become a player mentor.
After not pitching in the major leagues for seven years, Bard returned to the mound in 2020 as a member of the Colorado Rockies and was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year. He posted a 4-2 record with six saves in 24.2 innings pitched with 27 strikeouts against just 10 walks.
This past season Bard emerged as one of the top pitchers in the NL, finishing with a 6-4 record and an ERA of 1.79 despite Denver's high altitude. He appeared in 57 games and converted 34 of 37 save opportunities in 60 innings pitched.
USA Baseball's World Baseball Classic team will begin its title defense with first-round games as part of Pool C at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. The U.S. will open the tournament against Great Britain at 9 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, March 11, before taking on Mexico, Canada, and Colombia on March 12, 13, and 15, respectively. The Pool C winner and runner-up will advance to the quarterfinals in Miami from March 17–18 and will match-up against the winner and runner-up of Pool D.
The semifinals and finals will take place at loanDepot park in Miami from March 19–21.
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