September 5, 2006 at 1:23 PM
Red Sox Ink Bard
On Monday, Boston officially announced the signing of first round draft pick Daniel Bard. Bard was selected 28th overall, immediately following Boston's first pick, Jason Place, selected at 27. Bard is believed to have signed a contract at above-slot value for a 28th round pick. However, it's not rumored to be a major league deal as he supposedly was seeking. He will report to Fall Instructional League in October, and will likely begin the 2007 season with Greenville or Wilmington. Bard pitched for North Carolina in the College World Series in 2006, and effortlessly reached 98 mph on the radar gun. However, scouts say his fastball lacks movement and his secondary pitches need some fine tuning. Regardless, Bard immediately finds himself among the top Red Sox pitching prospects.