Ryan Ward finally received a long-awaited opportunity to make his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers this season and now he’s taken on a larger role.
Ward first joined the Dodgers in April when Freddie Freeman went on the paternity list. The 28-year-old received another opportunity as injures began to mount. Ward has appeared in 18 games since getting recalled May 29 as the corresponding move to Teoscar Hernández going on the injured list with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.
“I like him. Certainly there’s a willing player, there’s a skillset of some power, he’s defended fine in left field, he grinds at-bats,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Ward. “There’s some swing-and-miss in there, which we’ve known, but for a young player, his first time here on this stage, he’s more than holding his own.
“Even with the move with Espi (Santiago Espinal) the other day, part of the result of him staying here is because he’s performed. He carries himself really well, good on the team. It’s good for the Dodgers to give a guy like him opportunities. He’s earned it.”
Ward is batting .220/.291/.480 with four doubles, three home runs and a 111 wRC+. He has experienced some recent regression but still been a valuable platoon option against right-handed pitching.
Outside of this season, Ward’s future with the Dodgers’ organization is complicated. He is under team control for the foreseeable future, but he still may not fit into the team’s plans beyond this season.
However, his ability to showcase his talents at the Major League level this season could be beneficial for both the Dodgers and himself. L.A. is no stranger to trading away players who are squeezed out by the roster. See Michael Busch, Gavin Lux and Miguel Vargas.
There is also the possibility for Ward to stick around and earn a place on the roster next season if the Dodgers decide to trade away Hernández, who will be in the last year of his contract. Even then, Ward’s chances of being a long-term piece aren’t great because of top prospects coming up the Dodgers farm system.
For now, Ward is a quality outfield depth piece for this season’s roster.
Ryan Ward’s reaction to first MLB home run
In his third game with th Dodgers, Ward went 1-for-2 with his first career Major League home run against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 31.
“That was incredible,” Ward told Kirsten Watson on SportsNet LA after the game. “All the guys were happy for me too. It was a really cool moment. I was happy with it.”
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