Taylor Ward

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #19 prospect in 2018
  Ward, who missed the first month of the season because of an oblique injury, stands out as a potentially above-average defender, with a plus arm that has allowed him to throw out 73 of 214 basestealers (34%) in 153 games over the past two seasons. Ward is agile and athletic behind the plate, with good hands, and his receiving, blocking, game-calling and leadership skills have improved. After allowing 19 passed balls in 90 games in 2016, Ward allowed four passed balls in 63 games in 2017. But the more scouts watch Ward hit, the more surprised they are the Angels used a 26th overall pick and spent $1.67 million to sign him. He has shown good plate discipline, with almost as many walks (144) as strikeouts (164) in three seasons, but he doesn't have a consistent approach or setup at the plate or get enough load in his swing, which limits his power. He has also shown a tendency to give away at-bats. Ward slashed a combined .258/.368/.390 with nine homers, 14 doubles and 49 RBIs across two levels in 2017. Most evaluators see Ward as a future backup at best, and only because of the dearth of catching they see in today's game.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #6 prospect in 2017
  Ward was the full-time catcher for two seasons at Fresno State in addition to spending a summer with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team. While projected as more of a third-round pick, Ward went to the Angels with the 26th overall pick in 2015. He spent the entire 2016 season at high Class A Inland Empire, improving his OPS from .541 in the first half to .774 in the second. Scouts have generally been skeptical of Ward's offensive potential, but his improvement included nine of his 10 home runs coming in the second half. He was too aggressive early in the season and had to make adjustments by getting his hands higher. He doesn't always have a consistent approach at the plate or get enough load in his swing. Ward stands out as a potentially above-average or better defender behind the plate, with a plus arm that allowed him to throw out 38 percent of basestealers in 2016. He wasn't receiving the ball well early in the year, especially in catching strikes to his glove side, and his 19 passed balls tied for most in the California League, but he improved his glove positioning. He is a below-average runner but not a base-clogger. Ward will move up to Double-A Mobile in 2017 and could get Triple-A time before the end of the summer. Barring a future catcher acquisition, he doesn't face much competition to be the club's backstop of the future.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #1 prospect in 2016
  The Rays had their eye on Ward in the 2012 draft, when they made the Indio, Calif., prep catcher a 31st-round pick. He spurned Tampa Bay's advances and spent three seasons at Fresno State. A part-time player in his freshman year, Ward earned the Bulldogs' starting job for the next two years while doubling as one of three catchers for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team in 2014. He got just 23 plate appearances as the bulk of the playing time went to rising sophomores Chris Okey and Zack Collins. As a junior at Fresno State, Ward hit .304/.413/.486 with a team-best seven home runs. The Angels used the 26th overall pick to select Ward and address a major organizational need for catching depth. MLB Network's draft coverage showed an exuberant scene in the Angels' draft room when they discovered that Ward would be available. Others in the industry were not as convinced that the catcher possessed first-round talent, viewing Ward as a defense-first catcher who would struggle to hit in pro ball. The Angels signed him shortly after the draft for a belowslot $1.67 million bonus and were satisfied with their choice after Ward advanced to low Class A Burlington in his pro debut. He showed impressive defensive skills and made plenty of contact. He hit .348/.457/.438 in 56 games while accumulating more walks (39) than strikeouts (23), showing limited power with 11 extra-base hits. Ward stands out as a potentially above-average or better defender behind the plate. He already flashes a plus arm, throwing out a combined 35 percent of basestealers in his pro debut. He didn't always make the best use of his lower half and had some rhythm issues early, but he improved during the 2015 season and put up consistent sub-2.0-second pop times on throws to second base. Ward's quick feet and athleticism make him a good receiver, especially as he gets more experience and adjusts to the speed of the pro game. He'll need to add strength to his slender frame in order to survive the grind of catching 100-plus games a year. The Angels believe the extra bulk will come as they integrate him into their strength program. Ward projects to be an average hitter, more likely batting in the lower part of the order, but if his defense develops as the Angels expect that will be enough to earn a big league starting catcher job. He has a good idea at the plate and a fairly simple swing, but can be too patient at times instead of swinging aggressively at pitches he can hit. While he shows some pull power, Ward projects to be more of a line-drive hitter who will stroke doubles to the gaps. Ward's approach is very much geared to contact and he does a good job of putting the ball in play. He has decent bat speed but will need to get stronger to maximize his power potential. A below-average runner, he moves well enough that he won't be a baseclogger. Ward should be ready for an assignment to high Class A Inland Empire in 2016. If everything goes well, he could reach Double-A Arkansas before the end of the season. He's the Angels catcher of the future, and if he experiences no setbacks, he will arrive by 2018.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #70 prospect in 2015 draft
  An unsigned 31st-round pick out of high school in 2012 (Rays), Ward became a part-time starter as a freshman with Fresno State. He was the everyday backstop his final two seasons and emerged on the national scene as the top defensive catcher for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team last summer. He shared time with Miami's Zach Collins and Clemson's Chris Okey, showing solid rather than spectacular receiving skills to go with one of the best throwing arms in the country. Ward earns consistent plus grades and 65s from teams that use the 20-80 scale, as his throws are accurate and true. He's thrown out 37 percent of basestealers this season after nabbing 40 percent in 2014. Ward's athletic 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame and arm strength would play on the mound if he doesn't hit enough to stick behind the plate, and scouts have their doubts on his bat. He's hit 13 home runs the last two seasons combined and has decent pull power, though he lacks a natural feel for hitting. Position scarcity, solid production (.290/.417/.495 line for Fresno State) and his throwing arm should make Ward one of the first college catchers off the board, likely no later than the third round.
• Ranked #495 prospect in 2012 draft
  Ward has his supporters as one of the better prep catchers in Southern California's jumbled collection of raw backstops. His best tool is his plus arm strength, but he needs to quicken his exchange and release to make better use of it. He has plenty of learning to do as a receiver and blocker, but he is a decent athlete and has shown aptitude for it. Scouts have trouble evaluating his bat because he faces soft competition out in the desert. He has at least a chance to be a solid doubles hitter because his righthanded swing has some fluidity.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Southern League #19 prospect in 2018
  Ward spent most of the second half of 2017 in the SL but garnered little scouting buzz because of his his indifferent defensive work at catcher. The Angels moved him to third base in spring training, and he immediately blossomed at the plate by hitting .349/.446/.531 with 14 home runs in 102 games at Double-A and Triple-A on his way to a mid-August callup to Anaheim. He ranked second in the minors in both batting average and on-base percentage. Plate discipline, above-average bat speed and an all-fields hitting approach served Ward in his breakout season. He lacks twitchy actions but wore out the gaps with his level bat path and knack for barreling the ball. He should develop into an average hitter with average power to go with average baserunning ability and surprising speed for a converted catcher. Ward resisted the move to third base initially and struggled with slow rollers and bunts before adapting to become an average defender.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #8 prospect in 2015
  Projected to be a likely third- or fourth-round pick coming out of Fresno State, Ward was one of the bigger surprises in the 2015 draft when the Angels grabbed him with the 26th overall pick. Known more for his defense behind the plate in college, Ward hit well in the Pioneer League and also after a promotion to low Class A Burlington, though scouts are skeptical on how well his bat will play at higher levels. Defensively, Ward has an above-average arm that could be a plus tool when he learns to better use his lower half. He earned good marks for his receiving skills and will continue to improve with instruction. Ward is a gap-to-gap, contact hitter with limited power, but he controls the zone and draws his fair share of walks. He's a good athlete who should add strength once the Angels get him into their weight program. "Nothing wows you, but you look up at the end of the day and he beat you," Billings manager Dick Schofield said.

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Ward’s breakout season finally came after he stopped catching and moved to third base. Freed from the mental and physical burdens of catching and allowed to focus on his offense, Ward made mechanical adjustments to his hands and stride, improved his strike-zone discipline and began keeping his bat in the zone longer, resulting in a .349/.445/.544 slash line. Evaluators believe in Ward’s offensive improvements but note that he is still learning the intricacies of third base, particularly when it comes to reading hops, and has a ways to go to get to average.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Ward was the full-time catcher for two seasons at Fresno State in addition to spending a summer with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team. While projected as more of a third-round pick, Ward went to the Angels with the 26th overall pick in 2015. He spent the entire 2016 season at high Class A Inland Empire, improving offensively as the season went along (.541 OPS in first half, .774 in the second). Scouting Report: Scouts have generally been skeptical of Ward's offensive potential, but his improvement included nine of his 10 home runs coming in the second half. He was too aggressive early in the season and had to make adjustments by getting his hands higher. He doesn't always have a consistent approach at the plate or get enough load in his swing. Ward stands out as a potentially above-average or better defender behind the plate, with a plus arm that allowed him to throw out 38 percent of basestealers in 2016. He wasn't receiving the ball well early in the year, especially in catching strikes to his glove side, and his 19 passed balls tied for most in the California League, but he improved his glove positioning. He is a below-average runner but not a base-clogger.
  
  The Future: Ward will move up to Double-A Mobile in 2017 and could get Triple-A time before the end of the summer.
• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  An unsigned 31st-round pick out of high school in 2012 (Rays), Ward became a part-time starter as a freshman with Fresno State. He was the everyday backstop his final two seasons and emerged on the national scene as the top defensive catcher for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team last summer. He shared time with Miami's Zach Collins and Clemson's Chris Okey, showing solid rather than spectacular receiving skills to go with one of the best throwing arms in the country. Ward earns consistent plus grades and 65s from teams that use the 20-80 scale, as his throws are accurate and true. He's thrown out 37 percent of basestealers this season after nabbing 40 percent in 2014. Ward's athletic 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame and arm strength would play on the mound if he doesn't hit enough to stick behind the plate, and scouts have their doubts on his bat. He's hit 13 home runs the last two seasons combined and has decent pull power, though he lacks a natural feel for hitting. Position scarcity, solid production (.290/.417/.495 line for Fresno State) and his throwing arm should make Ward one of the first college catchers off the board, likely no later than the third round.