Ryan Ward

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #434 prospect in 2019 draft
  A backend member of the BA500 out of high school in 2016, Ward looked to become a regular contributor as a freshman at Bryant before a season-ending injury cut his season short at just 10 games. Ward returned to play in 2018 and produced one of the best season's in Bryant baseball history, setting a program record with 101 hits and 157 total bases and was also the first Division I player in program history to hit over .400 for the season. He finished with a .409/.449/.636 line with eight home runs and 22 doubles. This spring he's continued to hit well, with a .387/.454/.609 line with a career-best 11 home runs with 27 walks and 16 strikeouts. Ward has a long, wrapped bat path and scouts wonder how that will play against better competition, but he has good hand-eye coordination. A left fielder already, Bryant will probably be limited defensively, with more pressure on his bat.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Ward set single-season records at Bryant for batting average, hits, home runs and total bases and graduated as the school&#39s all-time leader with a .383 batting average. The Dodgers drafted him in the eighth round in 2019, and he promptly finished in the top five in the organization in runs (91), hits (122), home runs (27), RBIs (84) and total bases (230) in his first full season at High-A Great Lakes.
  
  Scouting Report: Ward isn&#39t the most physical or athletic player, but he just plain hits. He has a picturesque lefthanded swing and drives balls hard with authority to all fields. He controls the strike zone, limits his strikeouts and has a short, direct swing that makes a lot of impactful contact. Though he&#39s not overly big, he&#39s thick and strong in his frame and can hit balls as far as anyone. He hits both lefties and righties and handles all types of pitching. At least an average hitter with average power, Ward is challenged defensively as a below-average left fielder with a below-average arm. He is slowly improving but will always be limited to a corner.
  
  The Future: Ward earns comparisons to Matt Beaty for his pure hitting ability. Like Beaty, he has a chance to find a home on a big league bench if he can improve his defense.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  An eighth-round pick in 2019, Ward made swing changes to tap into more power this year and has shown the ability to drive the ball out to all fields at High-A Great Lakes. He has consistently made hard contact and played a serviceable corner outfield.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  A backend member of the BA500 out of high school in 2016, Ward looked to become a regular contributor as a freshman at Bryant before a season-ending injury cut his season short at just 10 games. Ward returned to play in 2018 and produced one of the best season's in Bryant baseball history, setting a program record with 101 hits and 157 total bases and was also the first Division I player in program history to hit over .400 for the season. He finished with a .409/.449/.636 line with eight home runs and 22 doubles. This spring he's continued to hit well, with a .387/.454/.609 line with a career-best 11 home runs with 27 walks and 16 strikeouts. Ward has a long, wrapped bat path and scouts wonder how that will play against better competition, but he has good hand-eye coordination. A left fielder already, Bryant will probably be limited defensively, with more pressure on his bat.