Los Angeles Angels Player Spotlight: Taylor Ward
- Updated: March 31, 2016
The Los Angeles Angels are looking to improve their Minor League system, today we can take an in-depth look at one of their prized prospects, catcher Taylor Ward.
Joseph Taylor Ward, was born in Dayton Ohio, but after his move to California he and his family ended up in the city of Indio. Ward attended and graduated from Shadow Hills High School and was the first ever MLB draftee from the school.
Ward was a true standout for the Knights, as he still holds some of the single season records, which includes batting average, (.600 in 2011), (.440 in 2012), home runs (6 in 2012) and RBI’s with, (34 in 2010). He was tied for second in hits, (36 in 2011). After high school, Ward went on to play his college baseball at Cal State Fresno, which included some great major league players like Kevin Appier, Warren Brusstar, Doug Fister, Casey McGehee, Matt Garza and Terry Pendleton.
In the 2012 Major League Draft, Ward had his dream of playing big league baseball come true, when the Tampa Bay Rays gave him the call. The team chose him with the 962nd pick of that round, but Ward never played for the Rays, and decided to return to school. Ward got a second chance to improve on his draft status, and was successful in getting drafted by another big league team. This time the Los Angeles Angels called his name in the 2015 Draft. The Angels made him their top guy in the draft, when the team took him with the first round, with the 26th pick.
His minor league career started out with the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League, where he played in 32 games, hitting 2 homers and driving in 19, not bad numbers for a first year player in rookie ball. Ward made his move upwards to the Burlington Bees, a class “A” affiliate of the Angels, were he was a teammate of another good young prospect, Trevor Gretzky, (son of the Great One, Wayne Gretzky). His time with the Bees was a success, as he managed to play 24 games and batted a team high,.348, with a homer and twelve runs batted in.
Although the season is still young and hasn’t begun yet, Ward has made two appearances with the big league club in Spring Training, with only one plate appearance. As one of the top catching prospects in the Angels organization, his stock will be on the rise, as Taylor Ward continues his career, his next stop should be the Inland Empire 66ers, of the California League.
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