Daniel Bard is a pitcher, and a man, worth celebrating.

Fourteen years ago Saturday, the Rockies’ right-hander made his major-league debut at age 23.

Bard entered his first game for the Red Sox in the bottom of the seventh against the Angels. The first major-league batter Bard faced was Erick Aybar, who grounded out to second base.

Now, 366 games, 415 1/3 innings and 65 saves later, Bard is still trying to figure it all out.

“I’m working through it,” Bard told me recently when I asked him how he’s dealing with the anxiety that almost cost him his baseball career and derailed his first three weeks of this season.

In July 2020, Bard made his debut for the Rockies after being absent from the majors for seven seasons because of a confounding case of “the yips.” He was named National League Comeback Player of the Year.

But Bard’s anxiety didn’t magically disappear. He still struggles, on and off the field. He’s never been ashamed to admit that.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in the United States, affecting about 40 million Americans. According to the Cleveland Clinic, anxiety will affect nearly 30% of all adults at some point in their lives.

But few people carry that weight on their shoulders while performing in the elite, cutthroat world of Major League Baseball. Earlier this season, Tigers outfielder Austin Meadows also was placed on the injured list due to anxiety.

“I hope he’s getting what he needs,” Bard said during the World Baseball Classic. “It takes time to heal, just like any other injury. There’s a process and some time and some therapies for the body, and in my case maybe the mind, to heal a little bit. I think it does work if you give it the right time, right space and right environment, so hopefully people start looking at it that way.

“I think it’s just enough guys being willing to admit either they’re going through something currently, or they come out and say, ‘Yeah, I went through this in the past and I grinded through it and I probably should have taken a little bit of time off. The more guys who do that, the more it will become normal, just like a guy who hurts his hamstring or elbow.”

But some people still don’t get it.

When Bard went on the IL back in late March, I received a number of emails from thick-headed fans. The essence of those emails was that Bard, who signed a two-year, $19 million contract extension last July, should just tough it out and do the job for which he’s being paid a lot of money.

I don’t understand fans like that.

Intelligent, articulate, and empathetic, Bard is one of the most popular players in the Rockies clubhouse. He’s a leader and sounding board for his fellow pitchers. He’s also a go-to guy for the media because he’s honest and insightful.

Bard is no longer the Rockies’ closer, though he might regain that role. Time will tell. His numbers are solid: a 1.23 ERA through eight games (7 1/3 innings). But his fastball velocity has dropped from 97.9 mph to 94.6 and he hasn’t been as sharp as he was last season when had 34 saves and notched a 1.79 ERA.

Bard turns 38 on June 25. That’s old for a professional athlete, though Bard still has life in his right arm. Bard, who’s persevered over a long and winding journey, has earned the respect and admiration of those who’ve come to know him.