| Taylor Ward | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ward with the Los Angeles Angels in 2024 | |
| Baltimore Orioles | |
| Left fielder | |
| Born: (1993-12-14)December 14, 1993 (age 31) Dayton, Ohio, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 14, 2018, for the Los Angeles Angels | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .247 |
| Home runs | 113 |
| Runs batted in | 345 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Joseph Taylor Ward (born December 14, 1993) is an American professionalbaseballleft fielder for theBaltimore Orioles ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theLos Angeles Angels.
Ward was raised inCentral Florida before moving toIndio, California, where he attendedShadow Hills High School and emerged as a notable baseball prospect as acatcher. He played three seasons ofcollege baseball for theFresno State Bulldogs, earning multiple conference accolades. The Angels drafted Ward in the first round of the2015 MLB draft, 26th overall. After spending four seasons in the Angelsfarm system and being converted to athird baseman, he made his MLB debut in 2018.
In his first four major league seasons, Ward did not find consistent playing time and was sent back down to the minor leagues on multiple occasions. In 2019, the Angels converted him to primarily play the outfield, forcing him to compete with fellow top prospectsJo Adell andBrandon Marsh for a spot while veteransMike Trout,Justin Upton, andKole Calhoun received most of the playing time. In 2022, Ward became the Angels' primary right fielder and was credited with a breakout season after he hit 23 home runs and ledqualified Angels batters with a .281batting average and a .360on-base percentage (OBP).
In 2023, Ward moved to left field, where he spent three seasons as one of the top producers for the Angels. In 2025, he recorded a career-high 36 home runs and a team-leading 103runs batted in (RBIs). The following offseason, the Angels traded Ward to the Orioles in exchange for pitcherGrayson Rodriguez.
Joseph Taylor Ward was born on December 12, 1993, inDayton, Ohio, to parents Joe and Samantha Ward. During his childhood, Ward's family moved toOviedo, Florida, a suburb ofOrlando. He enrolled atHagerty High School for his freshman year of high school in 2008.[1]
In 2009, Ward's family moved to theCoachella Valley in SouthernCalifornia, where he enrolled at the newly-openedShadow Hills High School inIndio for his sophomore year. He playedcatcher for the Shadow Hills baseball team and was a two-timeDe Anza League First Team selection. In his junior season, he was named the De Anza League MVP and Offensive Player of the Year while also earning First Team honors in theCalifornia Interscholastic Federation'sSouthern Section. In his senior season, he caught for eventual MLB pitcherTyson Miller, forming the team's topbattery. Ward committed to playcollege baseball forCalifornia State University, Fresno, becoming the first student in Shadow Hills history to receive anathletic scholarship from anNCAA Division I school.[2] He was selected by theTampa Bay Rays in the 31st round of the2012 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign with the team, moving forward with his plans to attend college.[3]
Ward enrolled atCalifornia State University, Fresno, to playcollege baseball for theFresno State Bulldogs.[4] In 2013, his freshman season, Ward's Bulldogs teammates included eventual major leaguersAaron Judge,Jordan Luplow, andAustin Wynns.[5] In his first college season, Ward posted a .196batting average with threehome runs and 15runs batted in (RBIs) in 46 games.[6] After the season, he made hiscollegiate summer baseball debut with theAnchorage Bucs of theAlaska Baseball League, batting .206 with three RBIs in 19 games.[7]
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In 2014, during his sophomore season, Ward earned twoMountain West Conference Player of the Week selections, first on February 24 and later on March 3. He finished the season batting .320 with six home runs and 41 RBIs, ranking second on the team in each category behind Luplow. He was named to the All-Mountain West second team as a catcher. Following the season, he was given a tryout for theUnited States collegiate national baseball team on May 28; he made the 24-man roster on June 30.[8] Ward also played collegiate summer baseball with theOrleans Firebirds of theCape Cod Baseball League, joiningJake Cronenworth,Bobby Dalbec, andDavid Fletcher on the team.[9] In seven games for Orleans, Ward went 4-for-20 (.222) with a home run and a pair of RBIs.[6]
In 2015, his junior season, Ward batted .304 with seven home runs and 42 RBIs, leading the team in the latter two categories.[6][10] He was named to the All-Mountain West first team as a catcher.[11] Ward was a finalist for theJohnny Bench Award, given annually to the best catcher in college baseball.[12]
Following his junior season with Fresno State, Ward was ranked as the 70th-best draft prospect byBaseball America and 99th byMLB.com. Ward was drafted by theLos Angeles Angels in the first round of the2015 MLB draft, the 26th overall pick.[2][13] He became the 17th player in Fresno State history to be selected in the first round of the MLB draft, succeedingAaron Judge's 2013 first-round selection. Ward was one of three Fresno State players selected in the 2015 draft.[14] He signed with the Angels on June 12 for a $1,670,000 bonus, below the recommended $2,036,000 for the 26th draft slot.[15]
Ward made his professional debut with theRookie Advanced-levelOrem Owlz of thePioneer League, going 0-for-4 against theOgden Raptors in his first game on June 18, 2015. He recorded his first professional hit on June 23, a single offGrand Junction Rockies pitcher Chad Zurat. Ward was selected as a Pioneer League All-Star, scoring a run during the exhibition on August 4.[16] In 32 games with Orem, Ward batted .349 with two home runs, 19 RBIs, a .489on-base percentage (OBP), and .459slugging percentage (SLG). On August 6, he was promoted to theSingle-ABurlington Bees of theMidwest League.[17][18] Between the two teams, he batted .348 with three home runs and 31 RBIs in 56 games.[6]
In 2016, Ward was a non-roster invitee to Angelsspring training for the first time. Prior to the start of the season, he was promoted to theHigh-AInland Empire 66ers of theCalifornia League. He spent the entire year with Inland Empire, batting .249 with ten home runs and 56 RBIs in 123 games. Following the season, Ward played for theScottsdale Scorpions of theArizona Fall League (AFL). He was selected as an AFL All-Star and finished batting .283 with nine RBIs in 16 games.[19][6][18] MiLB.com named Ward an Angels Organization All-Star for 2016.[20]
In 2017, Ward returned to Inland Empire to begin the season. On April 5, he was placed on the 7-daydisabled list but did not return until May 3. In 54 games with the 66ers, Ward batted .242 with six home runs and 30 RBIs. On July 20, he was promoted to theDouble-AMobile BayBears of theSouthern League, remaining with the team for the rest of the season. In 87 games between both teams, Ward batted .258 with nine home runs and 49 RBIs.[6] MiLB.com named him an Angels Organization All-Star for the second straight season.[21]
Prior to the 2018 season, the Angels converted Ward fromcatcher to athird baseman.[22] He started the year by returning to Mobile, where he made his professional debut at third base on April 5. Ward was named aSouthern League mid-season All-Star. In 42 games with Mobile, Ward batted .345 with six home runs and 25 RBIs. On June 2, Ward was promoted to theTriple-ASalt Lake Bees of thePacific Coast League. In 60 games with Salt Lake, he batted .352 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs. Following the season, Ward was named an Angels Organization All-Star by MiLB.com[18]
Ward was called up to the majors for the first time on August 14, 2018, and made his MLB debut that day against theSan Diego Padres atPetco Park.[23][24] In his first plate appearance, Ward hit an RBIdouble offBrett Kennedy. He finished his debut at 2-for-3 with an RBI and awalk. Ward hit his first major league home run on August 18, a solo shot offEddie Butler. He finished his abrupt first season hitting .178 with six home runs and 15 RBIs in 40 games.[25]
In 2019, Ward was intermittently sent between Triple-A and the major leagues, including fiveoptions to Salt Lake before August. He received minimal playing time at third base as the Angels opted to giveZack Cozart,David Fletcher, andMatt Thaiss a majority of time at the position. During a minor league stint in May, Ward was converted to playleft fielder. In September, the Angels gave him his longest stint of the year with the major league club to replace an injuredJustin Upton in left field.[26] Ward batted .306 with 27 home runs and 71 RBIs in 106 games with Salt Lake and .292 with a home run and two RBIs in 20 games with the Angels.[6][18]
Ward began theCOVID-19-shortened 2020 season with the major league club, switching between left field andright field to flankMike Trout. On August 18, the Angels optioned Ward to the alternate training site being used in lieu of the cancelled minor league season. He was recalled to the major leagues on September 3 to finish out the season with the Angels. In 34 games, Ward hit .277 with five RBIs.[25][18]
In 2021, Ward joined the major league club in May as a right fielder. He was batting .215 with four home runs through his first month, but his batting average improved as the season progressed. On June 17, Ward hit his first careergrand slam, coming offKyle Funkhouser in the 7th inning of a 7–5 win over theDetroit Tigers. On July 22, Ward was optioned to Salt Lake. He was placed on the 7-day injured list on July 30 and began a rehab assignment with theArizona Complex League Angels on September 16. Ward was recalled to the major leagues on September 29 but returned to the injured list on October 3 for a right adductor strain. Ward finished 2021 hitting .250 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs in 65 games.[25][18]
Ward began the 2022 season on the 10-day injured list with a groin strain he endured during a spring training game.[27] He made his season debut on April 16, going 2-for-3 with a solo home run against theTexas Rangers.[28] On April 25, Ward hit two home runs and provided all the offense in his first multi-homer game, a 3–0 victory over theCleveland Guardians.[29] On April 27, later in the same series against Cleveland, Ward went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, his second career grand slam, and atriple, falling asingle shy fromhitting for the cycle in the 9–5 victory.[30] Ward was named theAmerican League Player of the Week for April 25 – May 1, a span where he batted .448 with a .484on-base percentage, a 1.000slugging percentage, 10 runs scored, and 11 RBIs.[31] On May 14, Ward hit a grand slam in a 9–1 win over theOakland Athletics.[32] On May 20, Ward exited a game against the Athletics after colliding with the right field wall and was considered day-to-day.[33] Ward suffered a hamstring injury in a game against thePhiladelphia Phillies on June 3 and was placed on the injured list on June 5.[34] He returned to the Angels' lineup on June 14.[35] Midway through the season, it was discovered that Ward's bat speed had dropped by about 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h) since his wall collision in May.[36] Between the collision and the end of July, Ward batted .217 with a .610on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS), a decrease from his pre-injury numbers. On August 13, Ward hit awalk-off two-run home run in the 11th inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins, his second career walk-off homer, to win 5–3.[37][38] In late August, Ward did not make the Angels' trip for a series against theToronto Blue Jays because of a Canadian travel ban against foreign nationals who had not received aCOVID-19 vaccine.[39] Ward finished the 2022 season batting .281 with 23 home runs and 65 RBIs in 135 games.[25] His .281 batting average and .360 OBP was the highest amongqualified Angels batters, and his 3.7Wins Above Replacement (WAR) was third-most on the team.[40]
On January 13, 2023, Ward signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Angels, avoiding salary arbitration.[41] Prior to the start of the 2023 season, it was announced that Ward would be moved from right field to left field to account for the team's trade acquisition ofHunter Renfroe.[42] During a game against theToronto Blue Jays on July 28, Ward took apitch to the head, suffering multiple facial fractures. He was placed on the 60-day injured list the following day, ending his season. In 97 games, he batted .253 with 14 home runs and 47 RBI.[43][44] In early August, Ward had three plates inserted in his face and a nasal reconstruction surgery due to the injuries.[45]
By spring training ahead of the 2024 season, Ward had fully recovered from his injury and began playing again, using an extended flap on his batting helmet to protect his face.[45] Following the departure ofShohei Ohtani in free agency and injuries toMike Trout andAnthony Rendon, Ward became one of the top run-producers in the Angels lineup. Through late May, he drove in a team-best 32 runs but toldThe Orange County Register that he likes having other batters ahead of him in the lineup to "take the microscope off" him.[46] On May 28, Ward hit a go-ahead two-run double off ofNew York Yankees closerClay Holmes in the 8th inning to lead the Angels to a comeback victory.[47] On June 21, Ward hit a game-winning RBIs single in the top of the 10th inning against theLos Angeles Dodgers atDodger Stadium.[48] On June 30,Detroit Tigers pitcherShelby Miller hit Ward in the helmet with a fastball at 93 miles per hour (150 km/h). Ward remained on the field after the incident but began slumping in the two weeks after, batting .140 with a .376 OPS in 47 plate appearances.[49] On July 28, Ward hit a go-ahead grand slam to complete a six-run comeback against the Athletics.[50] He finished the season batting .246 with 25 home runs and 75 RBI in 156 games.[25]
On May 12, 2025, Ward hit a go-ahead, ninth-inning grand slam off ofSan Diego Padres closerRobert Suárez in a 9–5 Angels victory atPetco Park.[51] On May 22, he hit another go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning against theAthletics atSutter Health Park in a 10–5 victory.[52] On May 24, he brokeDarin Erstad's Angels franchise record with his 10th consecutive game recording an extra-base hit. On May 26, Ward was awarded theAmerican League Player of the Week award for May 19–25, a span in which he batted .407 (11–27) with nine runs, three home runs, 12 RBI, and an OPS of 1.382.[53] Ward finished the season batting .228 with 36 home runs and a team-leading 103 RBI in 157 games.[25]
On November 18, 2025, the Angels traded Ward to theBaltimore Orioles in exchange forGrayson Rodriguez.[54]
As a prospect in 2018,MLB.com graded Ward on its20–80 scale with a 50 for hitting, 40 for power, 40 for running, 65 for arm strength, 50 for fielding, and 50 overall. The report credited his "excellent plate discipline" and "very advanced approach" that generates walks and limits strikeouts. The report profiled Ward as a contact hitter but noted his uptick in home run power at the time.[55]
In 2017, formerHouston Astros minor leaguer Trent Woodward began teaching Ward a system that uses a "range" of swing styles rather than just one style to enhance results.Fox Sports journalist Pedro Moura wrote that the system emphasizes "holding the bat at a 90-degree angle to his spine and trying to match the angle of the incoming pitch with a slight uppercut in his swing". The two met once a month to train. In 2021, Angels managerJoe Maddon criticized the approach, suggesting that an overemphasis on contact angle was decreasing Ward's productivity. Ward later said that Maddon didn't know all the aspects of the system at the time.[56]
He and wife Taylor welcomed their first child, a daughter Cameryn Taylor Ward, on Nov. 21, 2022.[57]
| International | |
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| National | |