MLB News: Season-Ending Surgery For Rockies Pitcher

He hadn't pitched yet this season while rehabbing from a knee scope, but now Colorado Rockies reliever Daniel Bard is the latest pitcher to be forced to miss the season due to arm surgery.

Daniel Bard out for rest of season. Needs surgery on flexor tendon. #Rockies

— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) April 12, 2024

Bard, the former Rockies closer, will have right flexor tendon surgery, which likely ends his time with the team, as he is a free agent after this year. 

The 38-year-old threw off a mound for the first time on Tuesday, after having platelet-rich plasma shots in his right forearm recently— that situation was actually causing more concern for the Rockies than the cleanup surgery on his knee in February. Now we can see why, as the PRP obviously didn't do the trick for his forearm.

Bard was still expected to move back into the closer's role when he returned this season, despite struggling to a 4.56 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, and an untenable 47:49 K:BB ratio through 49 1/3 innings in 2023. 

Bard joins a long list of notable pitchers missing serious time this season due to arm injuries, including Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander, Spencer Strider, Kodai Senga, Shane Bieber, Eury Perez, Framber Valdez, Jonathan Loáisiga and Nick Pivetta, among others. 

 Justin Lawrence and Tyler Kinley, neither of whom have impressed much thus far this season, will continue to be the lead candidates to get closing opportunities out of the back end of Colorado's bullpen.

Photo: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports