Ryan Ward made his MLB debut on April 19 at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies after seven seasons in the Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League system.
It was a well deserved promotion for the 28-year-old, coming off his Pacific Coast League MVP Award last season and another hot start in 2026.
Ward’s Major League odyssey deeply resonated with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
“It does (hit home), it does. He’s a guy that when you look at him, he’s never been that big prospect. For me, I really believe in meritocracy and performance,” Roberts said on SportsNet LA. “He’s a guy that nothing was given to him. He’s had to earn it, and continue to earn it and continue to prove it. I do relate to that, so I am sensitive to guys like him.”
Ward was not a highly touted prospect when he was selected by the Dodgers in the eighth-round of the 2019 MLB Draft.
He also didn’t attract much attention from scouts over the years in their farm system. In fact, Ward had never cracked MLB Pipeline’s Dodgers top 30 prospect list before this season.
He entered the 2026 season as the organization’s No. 19 prospect after hitting .290/.380/.557 with 31 doubles, six triples, 36 home runs and 122 RBI for Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2025.
While the national outlets are just getting acquainted with Ward, he had been on Roberts’ radar for some time.
“I think he was in camp three years ago, four years ago,” Roberts said of when Ward caught his attention. “I’ve known him for a long time. You look at his baseball card, and he just continues to be productive and produce. I’ve known of Ryan for a long time.”
Ward collected two hits in six at-bats with the Dodgers before being optioned back to the Comets on Tuesday. It was an expected development as Ward’s first Major League opportunity was only created because of Freddie Freeman going on the paternity list.
What’s next for Ryan Ward?
Unfortunately for Ward, he’s likely looking at another season spent in the Minors. There conceivably could be a scenario where he returns to the Dodgers roster, but that would hinge on factors other than his own performance.
Another scenario that potentially may surface at some point is the Dodgers including Ward in a trade given he’s largely blocked on the organizational depth chart.
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