Dodgers minor league 1B/OF is thriving in his third year with Triple-A Oklahoma City, leading the PCL in several offensive categories.
On the second day of the 2025 MLB Draft, a former Dodgers’ second-day draft pick won an award. Ryan Ward, the corner outfielder and first baseman, was named the Pacific Coast League player of the week for his strong week of July 7-13 against Sugar Land.
Ward had at least one hit in all six games during the home series for the Comets. That included six extra-base hits through the first four games of the series, including four doubles, a home run, and a triple. Over the final two games of the series Ward walked five times in his nine plate appearances but still managed two singles and two more RBI.
For the week, Ward had nine hits in 21 at-bats, hitting .429/.556/.857 with six walks, six RBI, and four runs scored.
Starting off the game with a bang!
Ryan Ward doing Ryan Ward things once again! ♂️ pic.twitter.com/4eLY1uxMyV
— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) July 12, 2025
Ward is the fourth weekly award winner for Oklahoma City this season, joining infielder Michael Chavis (April 7-13), outfielder James Outman (April 21-27), and pitcher Emmet Sheehan (June 23-29).
On the season, Ward is hitting .309/.399/.597 with a 146 wRC+ in his third season in Triple-A, leading the Pacific Coast League in hits (108), home runs (24), RBI (82), extra-base hits (49), and total bases (209), and is second in the league in slugging percentage and runs scored (71).
Ward was an eighth-round draft pick of the Dodgers out of Bryant in 2019. The 27-year-old hasn’t yet gotten the call to the majors in part because he’s a corner outfielder and first baseman, and doesn’t have the defensive versatility and/or speed possessed by other Dodgers call-ups Hyeseong Kim, Outman, and Esteury Ruiz.
Last December Ward was eligible to be picked in the Rule 5 Draft but was not selected. Given his play this year, one would think by next season, Ward will be someplace where he can at least get a chance in the majors.