Taylor Ward

Joseph Taylor Ward (born December 14, 1993) is an American professional baseball third baseman and outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). Ward was drafted by the Angels in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft, 26th overall. He made his MLB debut in 2018.

Taylor Ward
Ward with the Anchorage Bucs in 2013
Los Angeles Angels – No. 3
Third baseman / Outfielder
Born: (1993-12-14) December 14, 1993
Dayton, Ohio
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 14, 2018, for the Los Angeles Angels
MLB statistics
(through May 4, 2022)
Batting average.247
Home runs21
Runs batted in70
Teams

Amateur career

Ward graduated from Shadow Hills High School in Indio, California, and played college baseball at Fresno State.[1] In 2014, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2] He was drafted by the Angels in the first round (26th overall) of the 2015 MLB draft.[3][4]

Professional career

Ward made his professional debut with the Orem Owlz and was later promoted to the Burlington Bees.[5] He batted a combined .348 (2nd among Angels minor leaguers)/.457/.438 with three home runs, 31 RBIs, and six stolen bases between the two teams in 201 at bats.[6][7] He was named a Pioneer League Mid-Season All-Star.[7]

He spent 2016 with the Inland Empire 66ers[8] where he batted .249 with ten home runs and 56 RBIs. He was an Arizona Fall League 2016 Rising Star, and an MiLB.com Angels Organization All Star.[9]

In 2017, Ward split time between the 66ers and the Mobile BayBears, batting a combined .258/.368/.390 with nine home runs and 49 RBIs in 87 games between both clubs.[10] He was an MiLB.com Angels Organization All Star.[9]

Los Angeles Angels

Prior to the 2018 season, he was converted from a catcher to a third baseman.[11] He was called up to the majors for the first time on August 14, 2018, and made his MLB debut that day.[12][13] He finished the season hitting .178/.245/.333 for the Angels in 135 at bats over 40 games with 6 home runs and 15 RBIs. In the minor leagues, between Mobile and the AAA Salt Lake Bees, he batted .349/.446/.531 in 375 at bats with 14 home runs, 60 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases in 21 attempts, and was a Southern League mid-season All Star, and an MiLB.com Angels Organization All Star.[6][9] In 2020, he hit .277 in 34 games for the Angels. On June 17, 2021, Ward hit his first career grand slam. Ward finished 2021 hitting .250/.332/.438 in 65 games.

Ward began his 2022 season on the 10-day injured list with a groin strain.[14] He made his season debut on April 16, 2022, going 2-for-3 with a solo home run against the Texas Rangers.[15] On April 25, 2022, Ward hit 2 home runs and provided all the offense in his first multi-homer game, a 3–0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians.[16] On April 27, 2022, later in the same series against Cleveland, Ward went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, his second career grand slam, and a triple, falling a single shy from hitting for the cycle in the 9–5 victory.[17] Ward was named the American League Player of the Week for April 25–May 1, a span where he batted .448 with a .484 on-base percentage, a 1.000 slugging percentage, 10 runs scored, and 11 RBIs.[18]

References
  1. "Ex-Knight Taylor Ward tabbed by USA baseball team".
  2. "Taylor Ward - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  3. "Former Knight Taylor Ward selected by Angels".
  4. "Catcher Taylor Ward of Fresno State drafted by Angels in first round".
  5. "Taylor Ward embracing LA Angels' spring training grind".
  6. Taylor Ward Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com
  7. Taylor Ward Stats, Fantasy & News | MLB.com
  8. GLASER, KYLE. "Top catching prospect Taylor Ward 'on his way,' says 66ers manager Chad Tracy".
  9. Taylor Ward Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball
  10. "Taylor Ward Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  11. "Angels' prospect Taylor Ward is the next name to know - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times.
  12. Fletcher, Jeff (13 August 2018). "Prospect Taylor Ward set for major league debut with Angels". Orange County Register.
  13. Angels' Taylor Ward goes 2-for-3 in stellar Major League debut
  14. RotoWire Staff (16 April 2022). "Angels' Taylor Ward: Reinstated from 10-day IL". CBS Sports.
  15. RotoWire Staff (16 April 2022). "Angels' Taylor Ward: Goes deep in season debut". CBS Sports.
  16. "Taylor Ward hits 2 homers, Angels top Guardians 3-0". Yahoo Sports.
  17. Bollinger, Rhett (27 April 2022). "Who's hotter? Ward slams, nearly cycles as Halos roll". MLB.com.
  18. Murphy, Brian (2 May 2022). "Ward, Adames earn Player of the Week honors". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
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