‘I think about him often’: Jason Varitek has a unique perspective on Daniel Bard’s comeback

Bard has made a return to MLB this season, playing for the Colorado Rockies.

Daniel Bard, who last pitched in the major leagues with the Red Sox in 2013, is suiting up for the Colorado Rockies. Barry Chin/Globe photo

By Deyscha Smith

August 5, 2020

2 minutes to read

Jason Varitek fully remembers just how good Daniel Bard once was. As the Red Sox’ 28th pick in the 2006 MLB Draft, Bard recorded a 2.88 ERA in his first 197 innings with the team, as well as 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

“We had as dominant a one-two punch as you can get with him and Jonathan Papelbon,” Varitek told the Boston Herald. “Daniel was the first guy I ever caught who got the ball to 100 mph. It was such a unique experience. The very first time I caught a bullpen with him it was like, ‘What’s this going to be like?’ Well, here it comes. And he had an effortless ability to do that.

“He was so good for us and so dominant.”

Varitek admitted that he had heard about Bard’s experience with the yips — spasms that would derail his performance and leave him out the big leagues for seven years — before Bard even joined the team’s roster. Still back then, he said the team did not think it was of huge concern.

“Well we knew that with Daniel when he got there,” Varitek said. “They did a good job of giving us enough information. You don’t ask too much right away. You try to put them in situations where they’re not trying to do too much. He did that and then you’re able to quickly add on to it. His effort level and his stuff just played.”

He added: “I don’t think at that point it was a big deal. It was something to be aware of but not to be overly concerned about. From the get-go, he was able to do the ball down and away and be around that area all the time. Walks weren’t an issue. It was like, oh, this is background information and he’s outgrown that.”

Remarkably, Bard has made an impressive return to the major leagues and is suiting up for the Colorado Rockies this season. Varitek said that while he has not spoken to him in quite some time, he’s excited to see his former teammate playing again and overcoming those challenges. Bard is even throwing 98 mph.

After 2,646 days, Daniel Bard is back on a Major League mound. Never, ever give up! pic.twitter.com/B3ufsYA8R0

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 25, 2020

Daniel Bard is up to 98 mph tonight for Colorado, here’s one of his batters faced. Pretty cool. pic.twitter.com/gjxXChOuaG

— Red Sox Stats (@redsoxstats) July 22, 2020

“I think about him often,” Varitek said. “He and his wife, Adair … I haven’t talked to him in a while. I think for a few years after, we stayed in touch more, but this is probably a moment to reach back out and find a way to get a hold of him and congratulate him.”

While Varitek said he won’t be getting back out there to play (“I have enough knee and feet issues,” he said), he has enjoyed watching his former friend and teammate make a comeback.

“I didn’t really know anything until yesterday or the day before,” he said “I was like, ‘oh my goodness, that’s so awesome that he’s made himself back and he’s there.’ It’s hard on my end. He was a good friend, a good teammate. To see someone so dominant, to see the struggles he’s had and to find a way to make it back, that’s so awesome.”