Daryle Ward

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #5 prospect in 1999
  Background: The Astros acquired Ward in December 1996 in a nine-player deal with the Tigers, and he turned in his second consecutive strong season in 1998. His combined totals at Double-A and Triple-A as an Astro: .319-44-194. Strengths: Ward keeps his hands and weight back exceptionally long for a power hitter, enabling him to stay balanced on offspeed pitches and control the strike zone like a singles hitter. His power numbers are deceptive because both Jackson and New Orleans are both difficult home run parks. Weaknesses: The Astros tried moving the 240-pound Ward to left field last season in attempt to identify a position for him on the big league roster, but the experiment didn't go well. Ward's lack of mobility was exposed and Lance Berkman's rise as a prospect pushed him back to first base, where he is average defensively at first base. He has good hands but below-average range. The Future: Few question Ward's ability to hit big league pitching, but he won't get an opportunity in Houston as long as Jeff Bagwell is healthy. Ward would seem to be a logical candidate to be dealt this season.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #10 prospect in 1999
  He can hit, Jewett said. For that reason, the Astros are trying to find a place for Ward. As good a hitter, as good a power prospect as he is, Ward isn't about to move Jeff Bagwell off first base in Houston. So the Astros have been using him in left field. "There won't be as much ground to cover in left field in our new ballpark as in the Astrodome," Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "He is one of the best young hitters I've ever seen," said New Orleans manager Tony Pena. "He's so quiet with his bat, and he's a great clutch hitter. If there's one man I'd like to see with the game on the line, that would be Daryle because he can do so many things with the bat."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #97 prospect in 1998

• December, 1998 Scouting Report
  Background: The Astros acquired Ward in December 1996 in a nine-player deal with the Tigers, and he turned in his second consecutive strong season in 1998. His combined totals at Double-A and Triple-A as an Astro: .319-44-194. Strengths: Ward keeps his hands and weight back exceptionally long for a power hitter, enabling him to stay balanced on offspeed pitches and control the strike zone like a singles hitter. His power numbers are deceptive because both Jackson and New Orleans are both difficult home run parks. Weaknesses: The Astros tried moving the 240-pound Ward to left field last season in attempt to identify a position for him on the big league roster, but the experiment didn't go well. Ward's lack of mobility was exposed and Lance Berkman's rise as a prospect pushed him back to first base, where he is average defensively at first base. He has good hands but below-average range. The Future: Few question Ward's ability to hit big league pitching, but he won't get an opportunity in Houston as long as Jeff Bagwell is healthy. Ward would seem to be a logical candidate to be dealt this season.