Ryan Ward may not be a household name, but his sudden availability has put the Toronto Blue Jays in position to make a sneaky move. After the Los Angeles Dodgers designated him for assignment, Ward becomes a player worth monitoring for a club that could use more impact in the lineup.
The appeal starts with the bat, even if his first MLB sample with the Dodgers was modest. Ward hit .218 with a .738 OPS, plus eight runs scored, three home runs and 12 RBIs. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but they don’t tell the full story either.
What stands out is the power he carried through the minors. Since 2021, Ward has produced at least 20 home runs and 75 RBIs in every full minor league season. In the two seasons before 2026 with Oklahoma City, the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, he topped 30 home runs and 100 RBIs both times.
There’s more to his game than just pop. The Worcester, MA native has also shown sneaky speed, averaging double-digit stolen bases and at least six triples in every season before 2026. He’s paired that with a .263 average and a .342 on-base percentage across his minor league run.
That profile fits a Blue Jays offense that has been short on punch. Ward would add left-handed power and could help address the lack of production in the outfield.
He’d also bring some flexibility. Ward has experience at first base and owns a career .991 fielding percentage over 160 games there, giving Toronto another layer of cover if the position becomes an issue.
With the Dodgers having seen former Blue Jays thrive after leaving Toronto, the Blue Jays now have a chance to answer back if they can get Ward off waivers.
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