[Pinetarpress]

Johnny Ard was a very highly regarded prospect with the Twins and Giants. He was the Twins 1st round pick (20th overall) in the 1988 draft out of The State College of Florida (Bradenton) He had a terrific introduction to pro baseball in 1988 as he went 7-1 with a 1.69 E.R.A between Elizabethton (APPY) and Kenosha (MIDWEST) striking out 87 in 85 IP. His star got even bigger after a very successful campaign in the hitting friendly Cal League in 1989 as he was 13-7 with a 3.29 E.R.A for Visalia striking out 153 in 186 IP. He entered 1990 as the 46th best prospect in MLB as he moved up to AA Orlando. He was 12-9 with a 3.79 E.R.A and saw his strikeout numbers drop to 101 in 180 IP while walking 85 batters. He still was ranked the 77th best prospect in the game entering 1991.

Ard was traded to the Giants for Steve Bedrosian before the 91 season and he pitched really well at AA Shreveport (9-3, 2.74) before moving up to AAA Phoenix where he struggled mightily at AAA Phoenix going 3-5 with a 5.78 E.R.A striking out 30 and walking 33 in 62 IP. He returned to Phoenix in 1992 where he was 5-8 with a 4.46 E.R.A in 22 G (19 GS) striking out 56 and waling 69 in 113 IP.

He only pitched in 3 games (AA Shreveport) in 1993 and was done with affiliated baseball after having shoulder reconstructive surgery. He did return to pro baseball in 1996 when he pitched for Aberdeen in the Prairie League having success with a record of 9-4 and a 3.37 E.R.A striking out 104 and walking just 19 in 120 IP.