OC Register: Taylor Ward looks to win an everyday job with Angels

[AngelsWin.com]

TEMPE, Ariz. >> Taylor Ward ended the 2018 season as the Angels everyday third baseman, hitting a walk-off homer to end the season.

Now, he’s trying to win a job as their everyday third baseman in 2019, and he picked up right where he left off.

Ward belted a grand slam on his first swing of the Cactus League.

“That’s a good feeling right there,” Ward said after his homer put the Angels on the way to a 10-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants in the Cactus League opener on Saturday.

The Angels don’t have many decisions to make with their position player roster this spring, but Ward is squarely in the middle of the most significant one.

Ward, 25, is in the running with David Fletcher and Luis Rengifo to be one of the Angels’ everyday infielders. If Ward wins the job, he’ll be the third baseman and Zack Cozart will play second. If Rengifo wins it, he’ll play second and Cozart will play third. If it’s Fletcher, they could go either way with Cozart at second and third.

Tommy La Stella is also in the mix, but more likely to stick on the team as a backup.

Ward’s advantage is that he has the most power, evident by the 14 homers hit in the minors and six more in the majors last season. Overall, he hit .349 with a .977 OPS in the minors, but it didn’t quite translate when he got to the big leagues.

Ward hit .178 in the majors over the final six weeks.

“I think I just got away from approach stuff and also a few mechanical things that I was doing in the minor leagues, drill-wise and things like that, that I didn’t necessarily stick to when I got (to the majors),” Ward said.

Ward said he spent most of his winter refining his hitting, and also working to be more lean, so he can be faster and maybe even steal more bases.

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Defense remains a question for him, but he’s even shown improvement in that area.

Converted from catcher late in spring training last year, Ward is still learning the position. He made a good impression in his first game on Saturday, making a nice backhand play and also coming in to grab a short-hop and start a double play.

Manager Brad Ausmus said he could tell even by the way Ward was taking his first step on check swings that he’s improved.

“I think there’s a comfort factor,” Ausmus said. “It was brand new to him last year.”

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[Second Base]

Grand slams = playing time.

[NachoPop]

5 hours ago, Second Base said:

Grand slams = playing time.

That'll be a nice change this year. Used to mean you're benched for the next game

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

On 2/23/2019 at 11:05 PM, NachoPop said:

That'll be a nice change this year. Used to mean you're benched for the next game

or sent back to Salt Lake.

[totdprods]

I think Ward has a better chance at posting a legitimately good season than most here realize. 

Pie in the sky prediction - he hits .265/.335/.450/.785 with 23 HR, 26 doubles, and 15 SB and 3.5 WAR, and is a legit ROY candidate if he’s still eligible. Cozart winds up at 2B, Fletcher is the UT IF.

[Jeff Fletcher]

1 hour ago, totdprods said:

I think Ward has a better chance at posting a legitimately good season than most here realize. 

Pie in the sky prediction - he hits .265/.335/.450/.785 with 23 HR, 26 doubles, and 15 SB and 3.5 WAR, and is a legit ROY candidate if he’s still eligible. Cozart winds up at 2B, Fletcher is the UT IF.

He’s not

[T.G.]

I'm fully in Ward's corner and pulling for him to win the 3B job.  He has the most upside, IMO.

[totdprods]

53 minutes ago, True Grich said:

I'm fully in Ward's corner and pulling for him to win the 3B job.  He has the most upside, IMO.

I'm a big David Fletcher fan, but ultimately, I think a Ward 3B/Cozart 2B/Fletcher UT IF outcome would be best for the Angels in the short-term.

I'm not too confident in La Stella and want to see Rengifo carry 2018's momentum before I hope for anything differently.

[T.G.]

I don't know enough about Rengifo to voice an opinion.  What I've read about him is encouraging and makes me hopeful that he can become the every day 2B.  So, based on what I actually do know and I have seen - I'm pulling for Ward.

[Hubs]

7 hours ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

He’s not

Yes, he was in the majors for a few more days than the maximum, and had 147 PA with 135 AB's. The ROY threshold is 130 AB.

[Troll Daddy]

14 hours ago, totdprods said:

I think Ward has a better chance at posting a legitimately good season than most here realize. 

Pie in the sky prediction - he hits .265/.335/.450/.785 with 23 HR, 26 doubles, and 15 SB and 3.5 WAR, and is a legit ROY candidate if he’s still eligible. Cozart winds up at 2B, Fletcher is the UT IF.

Those are definitely pie in the sky projections. 

[Docwaukee]

24 minutes ago, Troll Daddy said:

Those are definitely pie in the sky projections. 

If Taylor Ward and Albert Pujols split time batting in the same lineup spot, Ward would outperform Albert.  

[Troll Daddy]

16 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

If Taylor Ward and Albert Pujols split time batting in the same lineup spot, Ward would outperform Albert.  

[Docwaukee]

9 minutes ago, Troll Daddy said:

taylor ward hit .178 in 147 PA last year and had more value than Albert in his 498 PA.