DENVER –– After seven years of ready for his shot, Ryan Ward is on the verge of his first big-league alternative.
The Dodgers are bringing Ward to Denver on Saturday and are anticipated to formally activate him later on this weekend’s sequence in opposition to the Colorado Rockies, sources confirmed, marking what shall be a first profession call-up to the majors for the 28-year-old outfielder.
While it wasn’t instantly clear what the corresponding roster transfer shall be, the choreographed nature of Ward’s promotion –– he shall be on the taxi squad Saturday, a supply stated –– may counsel a non-injury-related maneuver, equivalent to one other participant happening the paternity checklist.
The Athletic first reported the news of Ward’s call-up on Friday.
Ward was initially an eighth-round draft decide in 2019 who has slowly climbed up the Dodgers’ farm system. Last 12 months, he was the Pacific Coast League MVP with triple-A Oklahoma City, hitting .290 with 36 dwelling runs and 122 RBIs.
This season, he was batting .324 in his first 18 triple-A video games, including 4 extra dwelling runs and 14 RBIs to a distinguished minor-league resume.
Despite these gaudy numbers, Ward has needed to wait –– and wait, and wait –– for an opportunity on the MLB degree.
He was added to the membership’s 40-man roster on the finish of final season, however didn’t make the big-league workforce after a poor spring coaching efficiency.
Still, over seven profession seasons within the minors, the left-handed hitter has a .266 common, 154 dwelling runs, 139 doubles and 520 RBIs.
The Massachusetts native and Bryant University product has acquired rave critiques from Dodgers personnel about his progress in current seasons, particularly with the way in which he has improved his plate self-discipline.
Since the beginning of final 12 months, he has 95 walks in opposition to 141 strikeouts.
He is a nook outfielder by commerce, however also can contribute at first base.
“The thing I like about Ryan is he’s performed,” supervisor Dave Roberts stated this spring. “We’ve asked him to do certain things, whether it’s positional versatility or cutting back on the strikeouts, hit for a little more power. He’s done all that.”
Roberts stated then he anticipated Ward to get a chance within the majors sooner or later this 12 months.
“For him to not get a shot (yet), I’m sure he’s frustrated and understandably so,” Roberts stated. “But the message for him is to keep putting up numbers and knock the door down and hopefully the opportunity comes for him.”
That’s precisely what Ward has performed, rating seventh within the PCL up to now this season in OPS. And now, his lengthy wait is sort of up, with a promotion to the majors having lastly arrived.
