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Josh Bard
Joshua David Bard (born March 30, 1978) is an American former professional baseball catcher who is currently the bullpen coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB as a catcher for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals, and Seattle Mariners from 2002 to 2011. Bard was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed during his playing career.
Bard was born in Ithaca, New York. He attended Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, Colorado, where he won consecutive state baseball championships in 1995 and 1996, Bard was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 35th round of the 1996 MLB draft but chose to attend Texas Tech University instead of going pro, where he was a three-time All-American while playing for Red Raiders. He had a .366 batting average with 43 home runs and 232 runs batted in (RBI) in his three-seasons at Texas Tech. He was the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year in 1997 and won the Most Valuable Player Award at the 1998 Conference Tournament. Bard also played for Team USA at the 1996 World Junior Baseball Championship and in the 1997 Intercontinental Cup.
Bard was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 3rd round of the 1999 MLB draft out of Texas Tech and signed with them on August 12 for a $387,500 signing bonus. He was invited to Major League spring training with the Rockies in 2000 and was assigned to the Salem Avalanche of the Carolina League to begin his professional career. He played in 93 games for them, with a .285 average. He was promoted to the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox on August 29 where he had four hits in 17 at-bats to close out the minor league season.
In 2001, Bard was again invited to the major league spring training before beginning the season with the Double-A Carolina Mudcats of the Southern League. In 35 games, he hit .258.
On June 2, 2001, Bard (and Jody Gerut) were traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Jacob Cruz. The Indians assigned him to the Double-A Akron Aeros of the Eastern League, where he hit .278 in 51 games. Following the season, he again played for Team USA, winning the Silver Medal in the 2001 Baseball World Cup.
In 2002, Bard began the season in Triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons, where he played in 94 games with a .297 average, six home runs and 53 RBI. On August 23, 2002, Bard was called up to the Indians for the first time when Einar Díaz suffered a season ending injury and he made his MLB debut against the Seattle Mariners. He recorded his first MLB hit on a single off Joel Piñeiro in the fifth inning and hit a two-run walk-off home run off James Baldwin in the bottom of the ninth becoming the second player to hit a walk-off home run in his debut (the other being Billy Parker in 1971). On the season, he batted .222 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 24 games, with a toe injury suffered in September limiting him at the end of the season.
In 2003, Bard was the Indians opening day catcher and posted a .244 average with eight home runs and 36 RBI in 91 games played. He also played in 35 games for Buffalo, after he was demoted to make room for top prospect Victor Martínez. In 2004, Bard spent the first half of the season on the disabled list due to an abdominal injury, and then spent nearly the rest of the season in the minors. He played in 50 games between Buffalo and Akron, hitting .247 while getting only 19 at-bats in seven games for the Indians. In 2005, Bard returned to the Indians roster, and spent the entire season as the back-up catcher to Martínez He batted .193 in 34 games.
In January 2006, Bard was acquired by the Boston Red Sox, along with outfielder Coco Crisp and reliever David Riske, for reliever Guillermo Mota, third base prospect Andy Marte, and catcher Kelly Shoppach. He became the Red Sox's backup catcher during spring training 2006 following the retirement of John Flaherty. His primary duties were catching knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield. He struggled at the task, giving up three passed balls in his first appearance for the Red Sox on April 4. In an April 26, 2006, game against the Indians, Bard gave up four passed balls in one game, giving him a total of 10 passed balls in his first five games. As a batter, he had five hits in 18 at-bats over seven games.
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Josh Bard
Joshua David Bard (born March 30, 1978) is an American former professional baseball catcher who is currently the bullpen coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB as a catcher for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals, and Seattle Mariners from 2002 to 2011. Bard was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed during his playing career.
Bard was born in Ithaca, New York. He attended Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, Colorado, where he won consecutive state baseball championships in 1995 and 1996, Bard was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 35th round of the 1996 MLB draft but chose to attend Texas Tech University instead of going pro, where he was a three-time All-American while playing for Red Raiders. He had a .366 batting average with 43 home runs and 232 runs batted in (RBI) in his three-seasons at Texas Tech. He was the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year in 1997 and won the Most Valuable Player Award at the 1998 Conference Tournament. Bard also played for Team USA at the 1996 World Junior Baseball Championship and in the 1997 Intercontinental Cup.
Bard was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 3rd round of the 1999 MLB draft out of Texas Tech and signed with them on August 12 for a $387,500 signing bonus. He was invited to Major League spring training with the Rockies in 2000 and was assigned to the Salem Avalanche of the Carolina League to begin his professional career. He played in 93 games for them, with a .285 average. He was promoted to the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox on August 29 where he had four hits in 17 at-bats to close out the minor league season.
In 2001, Bard was again invited to the major league spring training before beginning the season with the Double-A Carolina Mudcats of the Southern League. In 35 games, he hit .258.
On June 2, 2001, Bard (and Jody Gerut) were traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Jacob Cruz. The Indians assigned him to the Double-A Akron Aeros of the Eastern League, where he hit .278 in 51 games. Following the season, he again played for Team USA, winning the Silver Medal in the 2001 Baseball World Cup.
In 2002, Bard began the season in Triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons, where he played in 94 games with a .297 average, six home runs and 53 RBI. On August 23, 2002, Bard was called up to the Indians for the first time when Einar Díaz suffered a season ending injury and he made his MLB debut against the Seattle Mariners. He recorded his first MLB hit on a single off Joel Piñeiro in the fifth inning and hit a two-run walk-off home run off James Baldwin in the bottom of the ninth becoming the second player to hit a walk-off home run in his debut (the other being Billy Parker in 1971). On the season, he batted .222 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 24 games, with a toe injury suffered in September limiting him at the end of the season.
In 2003, Bard was the Indians opening day catcher and posted a .244 average with eight home runs and 36 RBI in 91 games played. He also played in 35 games for Buffalo, after he was demoted to make room for top prospect Victor Martínez. In 2004, Bard spent the first half of the season on the disabled list due to an abdominal injury, and then spent nearly the rest of the season in the minors. He played in 50 games between Buffalo and Akron, hitting .247 while getting only 19 at-bats in seven games for the Indians. In 2005, Bard returned to the Indians roster, and spent the entire season as the back-up catcher to Martínez He batted .193 in 34 games.
In January 2006, Bard was acquired by the Boston Red Sox, along with outfielder Coco Crisp and reliever David Riske, for reliever Guillermo Mota, third base prospect Andy Marte, and catcher Kelly Shoppach. He became the Red Sox's backup catcher during spring training 2006 following the retirement of John Flaherty. His primary duties were catching knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield. He struggled at the task, giving up three passed balls in his first appearance for the Red Sox on April 4. In an April 26, 2006, game against the Indians, Bard gave up four passed balls in one game, giving him a total of 10 passed balls in his first five games. As a batter, he had five hits in 18 at-bats over seven games.
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