Daniel Bard

For the 2005 season, Bard was named preseason first-team All-America by Baseball America and was named preseason third-team All-America by Collegiate Baseball and by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Bard went 7–5 with a 4.22 ERA in 16 starts. and was third in the ACC in opponents' batting average at .219. He was named to the Roger Clemens Award watch list.

Bard was a second-team summer All-American selection in the 2005 Cape Cod League after a successful summer with the Wareham Gatemen, where he led the league in innings pitched and strikeouts, while finishing third in ERA. Bard and fellow North Carolina left-hander Andrew Miller were rated the top two prospects in the Cape Cod League. Bard and Miller led North Carolina to the College World Series, where they lost to Oregon State, two games to one. He finished his junior year with a 9–4 record and a 3.64 ERA in 17 starts. He earned ACC pitcher of the week honors twice during the 2006 season.

On June 6, 2006, Bard was selected in the first round (28th overall) of the 2006 MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox. On September 4, Bard signed with the team. He admitted he had enrolled in classes at the University of North Carolina as a backup plan in case a deal with the Red Sox was not finalized in time. Bard had been previously selected in the 20th round with the 604th overall selection out of high school by the New York Yankees in the 2003 MLB draft, but did not sign.

On May 10, 2009, Red Sox pitcher Javier López was designated for assignment, and Bard was called up from Triple-A. On May 13, 2009, he made his major-league debut against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, pitching two scoreless innings in an 8–4 loss.

The Red Sox made Bard a starting pitcher for 2012. He started the season 5–6 with a 5.24 ERA, striking out 34 while walking 37 and hitting eight batters. On June 5, 2012, Bard was optioned to AAA Pawtucket. In his last start prior to his demotion, he lasted 1.2 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, giving up five runs, six walks, and hitting two batters. Bard continued to struggle in AAA, surrendering 15 walks and posting a 7.08 ERA in 20 ⁄3 innings through the end of July. Bard was recalled on August 30 when Zach Stewart was optioned out.

As of 2012, Bard threw four pitches. About half of his pitches thrown were four-seam fastballs in the range of 92–96 mph. He also featured a two-seam fastball at 93–97 miles per hour (150–156 km/h), slider at 79–83 miles per hour (127–134 km/h), and changeup at 86–89 miles per hour (138–143 km/h). He could touch and break 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) with the two-seamer. Bard's changeup was used almost exclusively against left-handed hitters. He used the slider against lefties as well, but much more so against right-handers. Bard's velocity on all of his pitch types dipped several miles per hour in 2012, presumably as a result of his conversion from a relief pitcher to a starter. Bard said he was mildly surprised, but not alarmed by the drop: "I knew there’d be somewhat of a drop-off, velocity-wise, when I went to starting. I didn’t think it would be quite this big ... When I’m 93, 94, they’re just as late as they were on that 97. I think it’s the way I’ve been able to set it up. If I can just establish strike one a little more consistently, the velocity can be whatever it wants to be."

On September 4, 2013, Bard was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs from the Red Sox. He became a free agent on December 2, 2013, after being non-tendered by the Cubs.

On January 31, 2014, Bard signed with the Texas Rangers. He inexplicably lost command of his pitches, walking nine and hitting seven batters while recording two outs in a stint for the Rangers' Single-A club. On June 19, 2014, Bard was released by the Rangers.

The Chicago Cubs signed Bard to a minor-league deal on January 18, 2015. He did not appear in any games during the 2015 season. Bard became a free agent after the 2015 season.

On January 11, 2016, Bard signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. After failing to make a minor league appearance, Bard was released on May 14, 2016. On June 6, 2016, Bard signed a minor league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. He made eight minor league appearances for the Palm Beach Cardinals during the 2016 season, allowing eight earned runs in three innings pitched. He then made 10 appearances for the Springfield Cardinals in 2017, allowing 10 earned runs in 8 ⁄3 innings. He was released on May 18, 2017.

On June 11, 2017, Bard signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets. He made a single appearance with the GCL Mets, allowing four earned runs in two-thirds of an inning.

Bard retired on October 3, 2017. He was hired by the Arizona Diamondbacks on February 1, 2018, to serve as a franchise player mentor.

His brother, Luke, played college baseball at Georgia Tech and was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft. Luke Bard made his major league debut for the Los Angeles Angels on March 31, 2018.

His cousin John Andreoli is also a professional baseball player; he made his major league debut for the Seattle Mariners on May 23, 2018.

In February 2020, Bard threw for scouts, and announced he was going to attempt a comeback. On February 22, 2020, Bard signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies, and was subsequently assigned to their Triple-A team, the Albuquerque Isotopes. On July 17, 2020, it was announced that Bard would have his contract selected to the 40-man roster by the Rockies in advance of Opening Day. His contract was selected the following day. On July 25, 2020, Bard played in his first MLB game since 2013, pitching 1 ⁄3 scoreless innings in relief. He was credited with the win, his first since May 29, 2012. On August 11, 2020, he was credited with the save, his first since 2011.