Daniel Bard, the former flame-throwing setup man and first-round pick by the Red Sox, is retiring from baseball, according to a report from SB Nation.
Bard, 32, was the 28th overall pick in 2006 and blossomed into Boston's primary setup man by '10, when he posted a 1.93 ERA in 73 games and was widely assumed to fill the ninth-inning role after Jonathan Papelbon.
However, he was eventually moved to the rotation -- where he went 5-6 with a 5.24 ERA -- then back to the bullpen before reportedly battling symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome and mental roadblocks that culminated in landing on the waiver wire after two outings in '13, just months before Boston won the World Series. He wouldn't pitch in the Majors again.
Over the next four-plus years, Bard spent time with the Cubs', Rangers', Pirates', Cardinals' and Mets' organizations, pitching just 13 1/3 innings in professional ball, largely due to a lack of command. He was out of baseball for all of 2015.
According to Thursday's report, Bard felt the emotional toll of attempting a comeback that never manifested led to self-reproach that prompted him to retire.