6:06pm: The Angels announced that outfielder Chris Young was transferred from the 10-day DL to the 60-day DL to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Ward. Young, who underwent hip surgery earlier this summer, was already known to be out for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, infielder Jose Miguel Fernandez was optioned to Salt Lake to open a spot on the active roster.
5:31pm: The Angels announced that they’ve selected the contract of third baseman Taylor Ward from Triple-A Salt Lake. He’ll make his Major League debut tonight, playing third base and batting seventh. A corresponding move has yet to be announced.
Word of Blake’s call to the Majors first came yesterday from appropriately named Halos reporter Taylor Blake Ward (Twitter link). The 24-year-old Ward (the player, not the reporter) has torn through both Double-A and Triple-A pitching this season, raking at a ridiculous .349/.446/.531 between the two levels.
A first-round pick by the Angels back in 2015, Ward ranked eighth among Angels farmhands on the midseason update from Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. A converted catcher, Ward is said to have a plus arm and excellent plate discipline, even if he’s lacking a bit in the power department. Ward has walked in 14.6 percent of his minor league plate appearances this season against a 21.1 percent strikeout clip. He’s also gone 18-for-21 in stolen base attempts — a somewhat remarkable development for a player who entered the season with all of six minor league steals (none since 2015).
I think he signed for way under slot value, but wasn’t his defense behind the plate a big reason he was drafted so high? If that’s the case, why did they move him to third? (If an Angels fan knows anything about this, feel free to explain)
I’m sure it is because he had a better chance of making the show at third.
Shoulder injury derailed his progress at catcher, thought his bat profiled better at 3rd
When he was playing catcher, he was struggling with the bat. He only started hitting after the move to third.
I think I remember this guy from his time at Inland Empire. I say I think because I don’t remember him being anything special back then.
He still has a cannon for an arm which is why it plays at 3rd. His hitting was underrated through out the draft process, and has done nothing but produce through out aa and aaa. They made him move because they think his bat will play there and dont want him sitting behind the plate all game.
Thanks everyone who replied, those reasons make a lot of sense so I appreciate the help
“Word of Blake’s call to the Majors first came yesterday from appropriately named Halos reporter Taylor Blake Ward (Twitter link).”
I assume “Blake’s call” is a typo for “Ward’s call”?
I was thinking the same thing
Seriously. This is written so confusingly– no need for the excess.
He will replace trout nicely.
wtf?