Fastball

Colorado Rockies Lose Potential Closer For the Season to Elbow Injury, Putting Career in Doubt

The Colorado Rockies are going to lose possible closer Daniel Bard for the rest of the year because he will undergo flexor tendon surgery. At the age of 38, there are no doubts about the rest of his career as well.

Brady Farkas

Jul 26, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Daniel Bard
Jul 26, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Daniel Bard / Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports
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The Colorado Rockies, already projected to be one of the worst teams in baseball this season, were dealt another blow on Friday when it was learned that top reliever Daniel Bard will miss the rest of the season with an arm injury.

Per Thomas Harding of MLB.com on social media:

   #Rockies RHP Daniel Bard had a setback rehabbing and will undergo a right flexor tendon surgery. He will miss this season.

Not only does this dent the Rockies bullpen, it puts Bard's career in doubt moving forward. At the age of 38, he's headed to free agency after the season. Having missed the entire season and probably some of 2025, who knows if he'll find a place to sign.

All in all, Bard has spent nine years in the big leagues with the Boston Red Sox and Rockies, but he became a great story after taking off 2014-2019. Since coming back in 2020 with Colorado, he's become a solid reliever, pitching to a 4.32 ERA in a tough environment. He also struck out 80 batters in 65.2 innings in 2021 and punched out 69 in 60.1 in 2022. He had 34 saves in 2022 for Colorado also.

The Rockies enter play on Friday at 3-10 overall. They will take on the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre, with first pitch slated for 7:07 p.m. ET.

Righty Ryan Feltner will pitch against Kevin Gausman. Feltner is 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA while Gausman is 0-1 with a 9.53 ERA for Toronto.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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