Spokane's Ward makes history with 6 steals
Braiden Ward is not the first player to successfully swipe six bags in a single pro baseball game. That feat was matched just a year ago by Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, and has occurred in five separate instances in AL/NL history -- starting with Eddie Collins, who did it
Braiden Ward is not the first player to successfully swipe six bags in a single pro baseball game. That feat was matched just a year ago by Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, and has occurred in five separate instances in AL/NL history -- starting with Eddie Collins, who did it twice for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1912.
What separates Ward's milestone from all the others before him is that the 25-year-old speedster had a straight steal of home as part of his effort in High-A Spokane's 7-6 victory over Fresno at Avista Stadium.
The Rockies' outfield prospect finished the evening going 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, three runs scored, an RBI and reached base in all five of his plate appearances with a hit-by-pitch and a walk.
Ward wasted no time providing a spark from the top of the lineup for Spokane in the first inning. After being plunked for a league-leading ninth time, the Washington product promptly swiped second and third before electrifying the crowd with a straight steal of home.
After an RBI double in the second, Ward laced another two-bagger in the fifth before stealing third and scoring again on an RBI knock from Dyan Jorge.
One frame later, the 2021 16th-round selection worked a six-pitch walk and took off for second successfully for his fifth stolen bag of the game. He was plated again on a hit from Jorge.
The 5-foot-9, 160-pound speedster led off the eighth and laid down a bunt for an infield hit. He again stole second, but was stranded there to end the inning.
Ward paces the Northwest League with 15 stolen bases on the season. His six stolen bases on Friday were the most in the circuit since Zeke DeVoss did it for Boise in 2011. The last time the feat was accomplished at the High-A level was in 2022 when Jay Allen II did it for Dayton.
Since Collins in 1912, it occurred three separate times in an AL/NL game. Carl Crawford stole six bases for the Rays in a game against the Red Sox on May 3, 2009, Eric Young Sr. did it for Colorado in 1996 and Otis Nixon for Atlanta in 1991.
Ward finished third in the league with 44 stolen bases over just 80 games last season. He complied 57 swipes over 100 games between Spokane and Single-A Fresno in 2022.
Rob Terranova is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobTnova24.