If you have been following baseball this season, you have likely seen Taylor Ward’s name pop up from time to time. This is mostly because he has been slashing to the tune of a .367/.477/.706 triple slash line so far this season. Angel fans have heard the name Taylor Ward for the last few years, however, some people may just be getting to know him.
Where Did Taylor Ward Come From?
Ward was a local product for the Angels, graduating from Shadow Hills High School in Indio, California, which is roughly two hours from Angel Stadium. His pro career started June 8, 2015, when the Angels drafted Ward in the first round as a catcher, 26th overall out of Fresno State. Being drafted that high comes with a lot of hype, as Ward was selected over players like Mike Soroka, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Ryan Mountcastle, Austin Riley, and Brandon Lowe, to name a few. With the hype surrounding him after the draft, Ward definitely gave Angel fans something to get excited about, especially at the catcher position.
Early Years
Ward started showing signs of promise in the minor leagues, batting .348/.457/.438 in his first professional season. Ward was even named a Pioneer League All Star that year. Things slowed down from there, however, Ward was still considered one of the Angels’ top prospects. After being converted from a catcher to a third basemen prior to the start of the 2018 season, Ward eventually made his MLB debut August 14, 2018. Things do not go so well for Ward early on, as he batted .178/.245/.333 for the remainder of the 2018 season. Starting off slow in the MLB is understandable, however, things did not start turning around for Ward. In his second season in the MLB, Ward batted .190/.292/.333, and even spent some more time in the minors, only appearing in 20 games for the Angels that year. 2020 and 2021 showed a little promise for Ward, however, things were still not quite there. Ward slashed a combined .263/.332/.410 between those two years.
2022
This season has proved to be the breakout year Angels fans were hoping for from Ward. After getting off to a delayed start due to a left groin strain, Ward came out blazing hot. Not only did Ward break out, but he did so in a big way, collecting hits when the game was on the line. In a lineup with Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, it is easy to be overlooked, however, Ward had been out producing both players. As of May 12, Taylor Ward had the highest WRC+ in baseball, coming in at 252, with Mike Trout not far behind in second at 246. With Ward now playing right field, the Angels even made the move to send highly touted prospect Jo Adell back to the minors, showing full trust in Ward. After looking back at Ward before his professional days, it is not hard to see where his recent success has came from, and Angels fans surely hope it lasts.
Injuries
Unfortunately, Ward has been susceptible to injuries throughout his career. This is likely why you might’ve seen Ward disappear from the headlines for the last week, as he has been out with a shoulder/neck injury. Ward found himself back in the leadoff spot Friday night against the Blue Jays, however, took an 0/4. Ward has dealt with many injuries throughout his career, and it appears that this is something he’ll have to figure out if he wants to live up to his potential. Things will likely cool off as the season goes on, however, if Ward can figure it out, watch out baseball world.
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