June 4, 2012
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech junior right-handed pitcher Luke Bard was the 42nd selection in the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Monday night, being drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the supplemental first round.
Bard, the brother of Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daniel Bard, becomes the 16th first-round pick in school history, and the 13th under head coach Danny Hall. Bard’s pick marks the third consecutive season that the Yellow Jackets have had a selection in either the first round or the supplemental first round.
Bard was putting up fantastic numbers for the ACC Champions before suffering an arm injury and missing the second half of his junior season – one of four key injuries to Tech’s pitching staff in 2012. The righty had made 11 appearances and three starts before the injury, with 0.99 ERA, 26 strikeouts and six walks in 27 1/3 innings. He was 1-0 with a pair of saves.
In his career on the Flats, Bard has pitched to a 3.47 ERA, a 3-2 record and 12 saves in 55 appearances (103 2/3 innings). His career ERA ranks 20th all-time at Tech, while his 12 saves rank tied for ninth.
The Academic All-ACC pick in 2011 was drafted out of Charlotte (N.C.) Christian in the 16th round by Boston in 2009.
Last season, left-handed pitcher Jed Bradley was a first-round pick (15th overall) by Milwaukee, after righty Deck McGuire was the 11th overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays. The last Jacket to be drafted by the Twins was infielder Whit Robbins in the 2006 fourth round.
Tech finished the 2012 season with a 38-26 record, claimed the program’s eighth ACC Championship and reached the NCAA Tournament for the 26th time in the last 28 years.
The 2012 MLB Draft continues Tuesday at noon, with live coverage on MLB.com.
