Ward aims to build momentum down the stretch

This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

MINNEAPOLIS -- It hasn’t quite been the season that Taylor Ward envisioned, but the left fielder has been swinging a hot bat over the last several weeks and is looking to finish the season strong.

Ward has picked up at least one hit in 17 of his last 18 games, batting .304 (21-for-69) with six homers, four doubles, two triples and nine RBIs over that span. He also has four homers over his last eight games, including going deep again on Saturday.

“I feel really good,” Ward said. “I feel like I was back in 2022, when every swing decision I made, I would find the barrel and some success.”

Ward, 30, has been productive in the leadoff role and wants to build some momentum going into next year. He remains under team control through 2026 and is a big part of the club’s lineup going forward. He said he’s worked with hitting coaches Johnny Washington and Tim Laker to retool his swing, and he is pleased with where he’s at right now.

“I've been feeling really good mechanically,” Ward said. “I think that's really just the biggest thing. I’m back in a good spot where when I decide to swing, good things happen.”

Angels manager Ron Washington said he believes that Ward had a tough time coming back from getting hit in the face by a pitch from Toronto right-hander Alek Manoah on July 29, 2023, which ended his season. Ward was a bit tentative at the plate early this year, but he seems to have put that hit-by-pitch behind him. Opposing clubs seemed to pitch him inside often early on, but Ward has adjusted.

“I think he can be a very productive player, very productive,” Washington said. “I don’t think he can be a guy, because he’s never had to be that in his career. But he’s a very productive player. We’re looking forward to him coming back and having a good strong finish and coming back next year ready to go.”

The Angels need Ward’s production in the outfield, as right fielder Jo Adell (oblique strain) and veteran backup outfielder Kevin Pillar (left thumb sprain) were placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday. Adell could be out for the season with his injury, while the Angels called up youngsters Jordyn Adams and Bryce Teodosio from Triple-A Salt Lake to bolster the outfield. There remains a chance that Pillar will return this year. It marked the first career callup for Teodosio, who isn’t ranked among the organization’s Top 30 prospects and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his Major League debut on Saturday.

Washington was proud of the progress that Adell made in his first full year as the club’s starting right fielder. He made tremendous strides defensively and had been hitting much better since eliminating his leg kick in late July. He batted .248 with five homers, six doubles and 16 RBIs over his last 34 games after making the mechanical change at the plate.

“We’re going to miss him -- he was getting there,” Washington said. “He’s learned a lot about the game, and he’s also learned a lot about himself. When you put those two things together, the next time you go through it, you should be better for it. There’s a lot of upside in his career.”