Freddie Freeman heads for paternity list; longtime minor leaguer gets the call

DENVER — The Los Angeles Dodgers are placing Freddie Freeman on the paternity checklist, opening the door for reigning Pacific Coast League MVP Ryan Ward to earn his first call-up to the majors at 28 years outdated.

Freeman and his spouse, Chelsea, introduced in February that they had been anticipating the start of their fourth youngster and added final month that the couple will likely be having their first lady. The nine-time All-Star first baseman is off to his typical begin to the season, hitting .296 and serving to the Dodgers open with a 15-5 report.

Players can miss between one and three video games whereas on the paternity checklist.

That creates the first big-league alternative for Ward, who has confirmed his aptitude in the minors. Ward is hitting .324 with a 1.020 OPS this season with Triple-A Oklahoma City after the Dodgers added him to their 40-man roster this previous winter. The left-handed hitting nook outfielder and first baseman has spent components of the previous 4 seasons at Triple-A earlier than his call-up, which The Athletic first reported Friday evening.

Ryan Ward hits for the Dodgers throughout a spring-training recreation in February. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

The Dodgers initially chosen Ward in the eighth spherical of the 2019 MLB Draft. While he’s made strides offensively to refine his method, he’s needed to wait out a deep and gifted roster. He was set to hit minor-league free company for the first time this winter, prompting the Dodgers’ resolution so as to add him to the 40-man roster.

“For him to not get a shot (yet), I’m sure he’s frustrated and understandably so,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated throughout spring coaching. “But the message for him is to keep putting up numbers and knock the door down and hopefully the opportunity comes for him.”

Now he may have his shot.

Other notes

• Prized Dodgers pitching prospect River Ryan was scratched from his scheduled begin Friday evening for Triple-A Oklahoma City and positioned on the minor-league injured checklist, sources instructed The Athletic. Both sources stated Ryan is coping with a “minor” hamstring challenge.