Mike Salas
The Dodgers organization has had many big names that have come up through the minor leagues. Is Oklahoma City Comets Ryan Ward overlooked and under rated?
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Ryan Ward in the eighth round of the 2019 amateur draft. He signed for $160,900 bonus and sent to the Ogden Raptors for the summer. Ward was moved around in the outfield playing right, left, and center fields. Left field seemed to be his position, he started 23 games, 41 put outs, 0 errors, and 1.000 fielding percentage. He batted a .271/.340/.415 in Ogden and was promoted to the High-A Great Lake Loons in 2021 due to the 2020 season being canceled from the pandemic.
With the Loons Ward recorded 27 homeruns, scored 91 runs, and posted a .278/.352/.524 batting line. He was third in slugging, second in runs, fifth in homeruns, and fourth in RBI’s. Ward was named to the league All-Star team joining Andy Pages and Griffin Conine in the outfield.
After a successful season with the Loons, Ward was moved up to the Dodgers Double-A Affiliate Tulsa Drillers. With the Drillers, Ward had 469 at bats, 27 homeruns, 78 RBI, and hit .234/.324/.424. Ward played 3 games at first base with 20 put outs, 0 errors, and a 1.000 fielding percentage. He played most of his games with Tulsa in left field. He started 84 games, 147 put outs, 5 errors, and .968 fielding percentage.
In 2023 Ward was moved up to the Dodgers Triple-A Affiliate Oklahoma City Comets. Ward’s first year with OKC was very productive. His stats for 2023 538AB / 87R / 126H / 21HR / 95RBI / 12SB / .234AVG / .324OBP / .424SLG / .748OPS.
He stepped things up in 2024 with 480AB / 83R / 127H / 34HR / 104RBI / 11SB / .265AVG / .325OBP / .558SLG / .883OPS.
The 2024 off season Ward was selected to the USA Professional National Team. He played in all nine games with seven starts, hitting a tournament-most five home runs and driving in 11 runs. He had 6R / 8H / 5HR / 11RBI / .308AVG / .406OBP / .885SLG and was to All-World Team.
Ryan Ward began his third year in AAA ball red hot hitting .433/.471/.533 in his first eight games. After hitting an inside the park walk off home run yesterday, Ward tied the OKC Bricktown era record with his 60th career home run.
With all of Ryan Wards accomplishments and time in the Dodgers organization, he is yet to be called up in the regular season. Ward is an above average outfielder and has proven he can hit. With all the uncertainty in the Dodgers outfield, could this be the year Ryan Ward will be called up to show what he has to offer to the Dodgers organization?
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