Ryan Ward’s next stop is coming far from Dodger Stadium.
Just six days after the Dodgers designated him for assignment on Sept. 16, Ward has an agreement with the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball, Japan’s top league. The move gives the 28-year-old a new path after spending his entire seven-year pro career, from 2019-26, in the Dodgers organization.
Ward’s 2025 season made him a notable name in the system. He was the Pacific Coast League’s Most Valuable Player and finished the year with Oklahoma City slashing .290/.380/.557 in 143 games, along with 36 home runs and 122 RBIs. The Dodgers rewarded that production by adding him to the 40-man roster in November 2025.
He got his first major league look in 2026 after debuting in April, and the power showed up right away. In 20 MLB games as a rookie, Ward hit three home runs and four doubles in 55 at-bats, good for a .455 slugging percentage.
But the strikeouts piled up, too. He struck out 17 times, hit .218 overall and drew only five walks.
That performance would have been enough to keep a lot of players in the mix for a longer audition. With the Dodgers, though, Ward was fighting through a crowded group of minor league outfielders competing for the next call-up.
The logjam got even clearer when the Dodgers selected Josue De Paula’s contract from Double-A after Shohei Ohtani was placed on the injured list on Sept. 8. At that point, Ward’s place in the organizational pecking order had already taken a hit.
His 2026 numbers at Oklahoma City reflected the slide. In 106 games with the Comets, he hit .249/.349/.430. With home runs rising across minor league baseball this season, Ward’s overall surface numbers moved the wrong way compared with 2025.
What comes next in Japan is the big unknown. From Ward’s side, the chance to try something different makes sense after a long run in one organization.
There was also a postseason catch. Because he was cut in September, Ward was not eligible to play for any MLB team other than the Dodgers in the 2026 postseason.
Players have to be under contract with an organization by Sept. 1 to be eligible to wear that team’s uniform in October. If another major league club had claimed him and he had agreed to join, his 2026 season would have ended this week.
Chunichi is 59-77 in NPB’s Central League and has three regular-season games left.
In Other News...
Dodgers Just Got An October Boost Fans Have Been Waiting For
The Dodgers got a familiar September jolt with two important reinforcements coming off the injured list as the club heads into the final week of the regular season. Dave Roberts said right-hander Tyler Glasnow is healthy and ready to help when October arrives, a welcome development for a team that has spent much of the year trying to keep its pitching group intact for the stretch run.
Los Angeles also had to make room on the roster by sending two players back down, another reminder of how quickly the picture can change at this time of year. Beyond the immediate playoff implications, there is already some offseason intrigue swirling around the Dodgers, with ESPNs Jeff Passan reporting that pitcher Tarik Skubal could be in line for a massive free-agent deal this winter, a detail that will only add to the teams long-term planning conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Fans Just Got A New Reason To Watch Tarik Skubal
Tarik Skubal showed up at SoFi Stadium on Monday night with another Dodgers star in tow, as he and Mookie Betts took in the Rams-Giants matchup. Skubal was down at field level while Betts watched from a suite that also included Myles Garrett and Aaron Donalds wife, a small but notable reminder that the Dodgers biggest names do not exactly disappear when the baseball schedule pauses.
For Los Angeles, Skubals appearance comes at an interesting moment. He was recently placed on the Dodgers bereavement list and is currently expected to start the final regular-season game, though that could still change. Even with the season winding down, the Dodgers are keeping an eye on anything that might affect the rotation, and a night out around the NFL only added another layer to the intrigue around Skubals week. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Bobblehead Ranking Brings Back The Moments Fans Wont Forget
The bobblehead shelf has been a strong reminder of how eventful this Dodgers season has been, with the club already handing out all but one of its planned giveaways. From Ice Cube and Kik Hernndez on the mound to Shohei Ohtanis NLCS Game 4 moment, the teams promotions have doubled as a season-long scrapbook for fans, mixing pop culture, October drama and a few offbeat surprises like Yoshi in Dodgers gear.
One of the more memorable nods came with the double bobblehead celebrating Andy Pages catch in the 2025 World Series, the kind of keepsake that turns a single play into a lasting piece of team lore. The final scheduled giveaway arrives Sept. 24, and if the Dodgers keep adding meaningful chapters after that, there is still a chance the bobblehead tradition only gets bigger from here. [Read more 🡒]