Dodgers have tested Ryan Ward’s patience as he waits for opportunity

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Ryan Ward might be able to get elected mayor of Oklahoma City by now.

Picked by the Dodgers in the eighth round of the 2019 MLB Draft, Ward was in Triple-A to start the 2023 season. He probably felt pretty good about the promotion, knowing he was just one phone call away from the major leagues.

Since then, Ward has reason to wonder if his phone number became unlisted or his cell plan expired without him knowing it. The left-handed hitting outfielder has spent the past three seasons at Triple-A Oklahoma City, playing 402 games there. He has two 100-RBI seasons in Triple-A (95 in the other), hit 90 home runs and posted an .850 OPS – all without getting a call from the Dodgers, telling him to catch a flight to Los Angeles.

The Pacific Coast League MVP in 2025, Ward has been in OKC so long he has played for three different teams (at least by name) – the OKC Dodgers became the Oklahoma City Baseball Club in 2024 then the Comets in 2025.

“I mean, it’s frustrating for sure,” Ward said, in major-league camp with the Dodgers this spring. “But I just used those two years to get better. If you look at 2024 to 2025, I made a lot of changes. I was able to become a more well-rounded hitter, especially. Strikeouts went down. Walks went up. Got on base more. Tried stealing some more bases. Just continuing to try and get better every day and using all that time down there to continue playing and getting better.”

The Dodgers used 63 players in 2025, 60 in 2024. Twenty-five were position players in 2025, 22 in 2024. Twelve players each year logged time in the outfield, Ward’s natural position (though he has also played some first base).

Ward was “multiple times in the conversation” when the Dodgers were considering a callup, General Manager Brandon Gomes said. A lot goes into those decisions and the multiple factors always seemed to add up pointing away from Ward.

“He was probably more a victim of circumstances of ‘Hey, do we have a runway for him to play?’ versus call him up and he doesn’t get to play. We have other guys who we think will end up getting more regular playing time,” Gomes said. “This is not helpful for Ryan, obviously, but thinking about the development and keeping things continuing to move forward because he was having so much success. Were there clear times when he was going to jump somebody and get a consistent amount of runway to play? We didn’t really see that path over the last couple years.”

The Dodgers’ left field situation last year might have offered the best opportunity to promote Ward and let him play. Michael Conforto was a bust. He batted .199 but still got 122 starts in left field before the Dodgers sat him.

“That was the constant debate,” Gomes said about pulling the plug on the veteran in favor of an unproven young player. “Then you had, okay, where does Kiké (Hernandez) fit into that? We know what Kiké can bring. We’re in a very tight race. Those different factors go into it. It certainly wasn’t because of Ward-o’s minor-league performance. Obviously, he’s done everything he can. He works his tail off. He’s a great teammate.

“He’s an awesome dude. He’s going to be one of those guys who’s going to be a great story, everybody is going to be happy for him, we he does get it – which I’m sure is going to come.”

There is no apparent bitterness on Ward’s part over being parked in Triple-A for so long, watching so many of his teammates get promoted.

“I was obviously hoping,” Ward said. “But I try not to think about it too much because then I’m putting too much pressure on myself and negative thoughts start to creep in. And last year was a good group too. I had a lot of really good friends on that team so it was easy to kind of forget about it and just enjoy playing and have fun and focus on where we were.

“That’s kind of my mentality on it – to leave all that out. Obviously it’s going to creep in. I can’t help it. But I tried to get it out of there as fast as I can.”

Ward has been diligent in attacking his weaknesses. He works on his defense daily, he said. And when the front office told him before the 2025 season that he needed to cut down on his strikeouts, get on base more and hit for more power, he did all three. He struck out 20 fewer times and walked 40 more times in 2025 while hitting 36 home runs and bumping his slugging percentage up to .557.

“He made a really impressive shift to controlling the zone and cutting the strikeout rate last year. A big jump – I mean, that was meaningful,” Gomes said. “That was the one holdup prior to that. I remember him coming into spring last year and asking (hitting coaches) Robert (Van Scoyoc) and (Aaron) Bates ‘What do I have to do?’ And they said, ‘Okay (this).’ And he did it. He took a meaningful step forward for himself, for everybody to believe, ‘Okay, this can really play at the major-league level.’”

It won’t get any easier for Ward. A clutch of highly regarded outfield prospects – Josue De Paula, Eduardo Quintero, Zyhir Hope, Mike Sirota, James Tibbs III and more – are coming up behind Ward in the Dodgers’ system. It’s the “double-edged sword” of being in the Dodgers’ organization, Gomes said.

“He has the proven track record, to already have done it, where the other guys they still have a lot to prove,” the GM said.

Ward was added to the 40-man roster in November, taking away one layer of complication regarding a promotion. That’s small consolation for being stalled in Triple-A for more than 400 games.

“I absolutely can understand,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Ward’s potential frustration. “You talk about performance and he’s performed as well as if not better than anyone. So for him to not get a shot, I’m sure he’s frustrated and understandably so. But the message for him is to keep putting up numbers and knock the door down and hopefully the opportunity comes for him sometime this year.”

STONE UPDATE

Right-hander Gavin Stone said his shoulder began to feel better almost immediately after the renewed pain that followed his bullpen session last week.

Stone said recovering following throwing sessions has been the biggest challenge throughout his return from reconstructive surgery in August 2024.

“This time it was in the back. That was the first time I had pain in the back,” Stone said Wednesday.

“Everyone I’ve talked to has said shoulders are tricky. Just up and down throughout the whole process. But hopefully coming off of this I’ll feel great.”

Stone will not do any throwing for the next couple weeks and then be re-evaluated. After targeting a return for Opening Day, Stone acknowledged this setback is “very frustrating.”

“But it’s a long season,” Stone said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who can cover innings. That’s kind of what we’re known for, having a plethora of bullpen arms and starters. Just keeping that in mind and knowing how long the season is, that’s really encouraging.”

ALSO

Third baseman Max Muncy was out of camp for a few days due to illness. He rejoined the workout on Wednesday, but Roberts said he is not sure when Muncy will return to playing in games.