Mike Salas
With the abundance of talent in the Dodgers farm system, it is easy to get lost behind the names of Andre Lipcius, Trey Sweeney, Nick Frasso, River Ryan, Kyle Hurt, and Landon Knack. LF Ryan Ward is quietly putting together one of his best seasons since signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ryan Ward is a 5’10 lefthanded batter who plays leftfield for the Dodgers Triple-A Affiliate Oklahoma City Baseball Club. OKC is getting ready for the first half of season to end and is looking to make a run to win the PCL East for the second year in a row. Ryan Ward with his above average skills in the outfield and big bat will be a key part of that second half run for OKC.
Ward was drafted in the eighth round #251 overall by the Dodgers. Ward was an All-American for Bryant College where he had a record-setting season as a redshirt freshman in 2018 and became the fastest player to 200 hits in Bulldogs history. Ward was assigned to the Great Lake Loons in 2021 then was promoted to Tulsa Drillers in May of 2022. Ward spent 60 days on IL with shoulder fatigue while in Tulsa, but still posted good enough numbers to be promoted to OKC in March of 2023.
Wards numbers in 2024 are very good. Though 69 games already played, Ward has 192 AB / 57H / 15 doubles / 19HR / 54RBI / 15BB / 57SO / 4SB / .291AVG / .346OBP / .679SLG / 1.025OPS. It needs to mention that Wards strikeouts is down and is on pace to break his best home-run mark of 27 in 2021.
Ward went 9-for-19 over five games during OKC’s series in Albuquerque, hitting five home runs and a double, while also scoring eight runs and racking up 11 RBI. This series earned Ryan Ward PCL Player of the Week.
This is the fourth time Ryan Ward has been honored with player of the week. Ward won honors in the Texas League with Tulsa and twice in the Midwest League with the Loons. Ward has produced in the minors since signing with the Dodgers and gives the team a solid left-handed bat and above average outfielder.
