Josh Bard

Joshua David Bard

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 215 lb.
• School Texas Tech University
• High School Cherry Creek High School
• Debut August 23, 2002
• Final Game September 17, 2011
• Born March 30, 1978 in Ithaca, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Acquired by the Boston Red Sox in 2006, Josh Bard failed as the personal catcher for knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield, having 10 passed balls in 5 games. He was traded away in return for Doug Mirabelli, Wakefield's previous personal catcher. His most substantial big league time in a ten year career came with the San Diego Padres, the team whom Boston shipped him off to to get Mirabelli back. His brother Mike Bard was a long-time coach.

Bard was born in Ithaca, NY, the home of Cornell University and Ithaca College. He was the top US hitter in the 1996 World Junior Championship, batting .462 and slugging .846 while splitting time with Dane Sardinha. He edged Yosvani Peraza as the tourney's All-Star catcher. In the 1997 Intercontinental Cup, Bard was 4 for 15 with a walk while splitting catching duties with Jason Hill. He threw out the only runner who tried to steal against him. He singled against Mark Ettles in his lone at-bat in the Bronze Medal game loss to Australia. Bard had hit .333/.357/.519 in the 1998 Baseball World Cup. After being part of the last amateur Team USA in the World Cup, he was then a member of the first professional Team USA in a World Cup. He batted .308/.400/.308 in the 2001 Cup, catching when starter Ken Huckaby moved to first base.

After his retirement, Bard worked in the Los Angeles Dodgers' front office from 2013-2015 as a special assistant for player personnel. He added professional scout to his resume in 2014-2015. In 2016, Josh was named bullpen coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Before the season began, he coached for the New Zealand national team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. In 2018, he moved to the New York Yankees as bench coach under newly-appointed manager Aaron Boone but left after the 2019 season, explaining that he wanted to seek opportunities closer to his family's home in Colorado. He then took on the job of bullpen coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020 where he remained through the 2023 season.

Related Sites

• Josh Bard on mlb.com