"Ward, an outfielder, played for the Oklahoma City Comets last year, leading the Pacific Coast League in home runs (36), RBIs (122) and total bases (315). He was named the league's Most Valuable Player and was named to the Dodgers' 40-man roster in November. With him turning 28 years old in the coming days, Ward has experience in the organization, though he told Dodgers Nation's Doug McKain an expiring contract left him with doubts about the future. Fortunately, "all got answered with one phone call.""
""I've been here for seven years, this will be my eighth year," Ward told Sonja Chen of MLB.com. "It was starting to get real, like, is it gonna be staying here or going to free agency? So when they called me, and being able to stay here and be with this organization and all the people here, it was really exciting.""
"Perhaps that's why the Dodgers kept him despite exploring trade options for the valued prospect. Ward's Mindset With MLB Debut on the Line Ward told McKain that he realizes this spring training could go a long way in determining his baseball future. "To me it's like, 'Okay, you're going to get your opportunity, you better be ready.' So [I'm] really taking advantage of all this time and getting myself into the best spot possible to earn that opportunity," Ward said."
Ryan Ward enters his fourth spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers aiming to break into the major leagues. He dominated Triple-A with the Oklahoma City Comets, leading the Pacific Coast League in home runs (36), RBIs (122) and total bases (315), and won league MVP. The Dodgers added him to their 40-man roster in November. Ward faced contract uncertainty but remained with the organization after a reassuring call. The Dodgers considered trading him but kept him as depth behind recent signings; spring performance could determine whether he earns a big-league role.
Read at Dodgers Nation
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