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DENVER – After a long wait of seven years, Ryan Ward is finally on the brink of stepping into the major leagues.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to bring Ward to Denver this Saturday, with plans to officially activate him during their weekend series against the Colorado Rockies, according to sources. This exciting move will mark the first major league call-up for the 28-year-old outfielder.
Although the team has not yet disclosed the corresponding roster adjustment, the strategic nature of Ward’s promotion—reportedly placing him on the taxi squad on Saturday—hints at a non-injury-related change, such as another player being placed on the paternity list.
The Athletic was the first to break the news of Ward’s imminent call-up on Friday.
Drafted in the eighth round back in 2019, Ward has steadily climbed through the Dodgers’ minor league ranks. He shone brightly last season, earning the title of Pacific Coast League MVP with the triple-A Oklahoma City team, where he posted impressive stats, batting .290 with 36 home runs and 122 RBIs.
This season, he was batting .324 in his first 18 triple-A games, adding four more home runs and 14 RBIs to a distinguished minor-league resume.
Despite those gaudy numbers, Ward has had to wait –– and wait, and wait –– for a chance at the MLB level.
He was added to the club’s 40-man roster at the end of last season, but did not make the big-league team after a poor spring training performance.
Still, over seven career seasons in the minors, the left-handed hitter has a .266 average, 154 home runs, 139 doubles and 520 RBIs.
The Massachusetts native and Bryant University product has received rave reviews from Dodgers personnel about his growth in recent seasons, specifically with the way he has improved his plate discipline.
Since the start of last year, he has 95 walks against 141 strikeouts.
He is a corner outfielder by trade, but can also contribute at first base.
“The thing I like about Ryan is he’s performed,” manager Dave Roberts said 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 said then he expected Ward to get an opportunity in the majors at some point this year.
“For him to not get a shot (yet), I’m sure he’s frustrated and understandably so,” Roberts said. “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 exactly what Ward has done, ranking seventh in the PCL so far this season in OPS. And now, his long wait is almost up, with a promotion to the majors having finally arrived.