Josh Bard Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1688
AVG	.256
OBP	.323
SLG	.385
HR	36

Full name Joshua David Bard
Born 03/30/1978 in Ithaca, NY
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School Texas Tech
Debut 08/23/2002
Drafted in the 3rd round (100th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 1999 (signed for $387,500).

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Switch-hitting C Josh Bard is the state's best college position player. He has power from both sides and always finds a way to put up solid offensive numbers despite an unorthodox approach to hitting. Bard pressed a bit with the bat this spring and became prone to swinging at bad pitches. Defense is the strength of his game. He is solid behind the plate with an accurate, if not overly strong, arm. Scouts praise his take-charge approach.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

When the Indians acquired Bard as part of a trade that sent Jacob Cruz to the Rockies in the middle of the 2001 season, the transaction drew little notice. But Bard started opening eyes immediately with his leadership and game-calling ability. Last year, he drew raves from veteran Terry Mulholland the first time he caught Mulholland. Bard has an innate feel for determining what his batterymate's strength is on a given day, and he can help guide a pitcher through rough spots. He also does a solid job of combating the running game. Offensively, Bard has made tremendous strides. From the left side, he has gone from a dead-pull hitter to one who uses the entire field. He has learned how to pick pitches he can drive. Bard won't be a top run producer, but he has enough bat to be an everyday catcher for a first-division team. (That said, he doesn't have enough bat to hold off Victor Martinez once Martinez is ready.) Bard needs to get stronger, in order to prove he can handle catching 120 games a year. After Einar Diaz was traded to the Rangers, Bard became the Opening Day starter behind the plate.
After designating Jacob Cruz for assignment last May, the Indians traded him to the Rockies for Bard and outfielder Jody Gerut. While Gerut didn't play last year following knee surgery, Bard was everything he was advertised to be in his half-season with Akron. He has size and strength, leadership abilities and catch-and-throw skills. He probably could handle game-calling duties in the major leagues right now. He did a nice job of working with an unfamiliar pitching staff after changing organizations. Offensively, Bard is a switch-hitter who fares better from the left side. He has shown some power potential but lacks a solid approach to hitting. His defense clearly is ahead of his offense at this point, and how much he hits will dictate his future. Despite the questions about his bat, Bard has no glaring weaknesses. He'll be the starting catcher in Triple-A this year.
Bard was a local Denver star at Cherry Creek High, leading his team to consecutive Colorado state titles and a 45-1 overall record in games he started. He teamed with Jason Jennings on the U.S. team that won a bronze medal at the 1996 World Junior Championship, where Bard hit a team-high .462. His brother Mike is an assistant coach at the University of Kansas. Josh has strong leadership qualities and is a polished defensive catcher who could handle the chores behind the plate in the big leagues now. The question will be how much he hits, though he fared well in his pro debut in high Class A last year. He makes contact, but he has a bit of a loop in his stroke and didn't produce much power or many walks. He has the size that leads to expectations of pop, which will be the key for him to get a chance to play every day in the big leagues. This year, Bard will be the regular catcher on a Carolina team loaded with pitching prospects.

Minor League Top Prospects

The Indians stole Bard from the Rockies in a 2001 trade for Jacob Cruz, whom they had designated for assignment. Colorado needs a catcher like Bard, who has a good chance to start for Cleveland in 2003. Bard threw out 39 percent of basestealers and handled a young Bisons staff like a veteran. Few prospects can match his catch-and-throw skills, and he possesses the size and strength teams look for in an everyday catcher. He also blocks balls well and knows how to call a game. "I love Josh Bard," Leiper said. "He's the best young catcher I've seen in a long time and is the reason Buffalo led the league in pitching. He's such a good catcher, it's just a matter of how far his bat takes him." While Bard doesn't show Phelps' offensive explosiveness, he's no slouch at the plate. A switch-hitter, he has improved offensively and could blossom into a 15-homer, 75-RBI hitter.