Southern notes: Ward switching gears in Mobile
Taylor Ward has his own infielder's glove now, but even that has meant a new challenge for the Los Angeles Angels' first-round choice in the 2015 Draft."I knew just how to break in a catcher's mitt," the Mobile BayBears third baseman said. "This is different. I guess it's something else
Taylor Ward has his own infielder's glove now, but even that has meant a new challenge for the Los Angeles Angels' first-round choice in the 2015 Draft.
"I knew just how to break in a catcher's mitt," the Mobile BayBears third baseman said. "This is different. I guess it's something else to get used to."
Ward was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training with the Angels and handled all the duties of an extra catcher, playing in a couple of B games. As soon as Minor League camp began, though, the Angels' No. 14 prospect found himself at the hot corner, a borrowed glove part of the transition.
Although Ward, 24, hadn't played the infield in high school or in college at Fresno State, the Angels liked his athleticism and thought his work at the plate might flourish by not having to toil behind it.
So far, so good.
The right-handed hitter went 12-for-19 in the BayBears' opening series with Pensacola and has a .439/.520/.585 line with nine RBIs through the first 11 games.
Ward credits some tinkering with his stance over the winter and a little luck for his fast start at the plate, but he knows the position switch could be a benefit late in the season.
"In July and August, my body should be feeling a lot better than I'm used to," he said.
Ward, who hit .286 with a .400 on-base percentage in 33 games at the end of last season with Mobile, was sent home from the Arizona Fall League because of a shoulder impingement and got a hint of what was ahead during January when the Angels had him concentrate on taking ground balls during a winter camp.
It wasn't until March, though, that he got the final word.
"At first, I really wasn't on-board," Ward said. "I'd worked hard at being a good catcher and enjoyed it."
Ward is still adjusting to third base.
"It's a lot different," he said. "Catching, you're constantly in the game. At third base, you're locked in defensively for about three minutes the entire game. It's a weird change."
Ward is now convinced it could be a beneficial one, though.
"For this year, the Angels say they want me to just play third base," he said. "But it obviously helps to be able to play more than one position. Major League teams want that."
Ward was charged with four early errors, so he knows he has plenty of work to do at third base.
"I worked hard to be a good catcher and I will work just as hard or harder to be a good third baseman," said Ward, who has a strong arm. "Balls I have to come in on or softly hit balls are the ones that are the toughest for me. I'm fine when I just have to react."
Ward is advanced as a hitter, showing good plate discipline at all Minor League stops.
He came into this season with 144 career walks and 164 strikeouts and has seven walks and nine strikeouts this year.
Ward, who has three doubles and a homer, knows this is an important season both at the plate and at his new position as he tries to enhance his status in the Angels' retooled farm system.
"I do miss catching, but I'm excited about playing third base," he said. "I think everything is working out well."
In brief
King of K's: Jackson left-hander Colin Poche got off to a prolific strikeout start, fanning 16 over seven innings in his first five relief appearances. Poche, a D-backs 16th-round choice in the 2016 Draft out of Dallas Baptist University, allowed one hit and one walk and had a save. The 24-year-old struck of five in two perfect innings against Tennessee on April 13 in his most dominant outing. Poche fanned 81 in 51 innings while posting a 1.25 ERA in 31 Class A appearances a season ago.
Another setback: Chattanooga left-hander Tyler Jay, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2015 Draft by the Minnesota Twins, is on the disabled list again, this time with a left groin strain. The former University of Illinois standout was sidelined after making one relief appearance, striking out two and giving up one hit against Birmingham on April 7. Jay, who turns 24 on April 19, missed most of last season because of a left shoulder impingement and finished 2016 on the DL because of a neck strain. The Twins' No. 16 prospect has pitched just 115 1/3 innings, posting a 3.36 ERA.
Home breakthrough: Pensacola right-hander Keury Mella, the Cincinnati Reds' No. 21 prospect, got a home win in his first start this season after going 0-6 over 14 games at Blue Wahoos Stadium last year. The 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic got the victory in impressive fashion, limiting Chattanooga to five hits without a walk over six innings in the 3-0 decision on April 12. Mella, who made two appearances for the Reds last September, was 4-10 with a 4.30 ERA for Pensacola in 2017 but is 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA after three starts this year.
Shrimp big draw: Jacksonville had the largest Opening Night crowd in the Southern League and in the process outdrew the parent Miami Marlins. The Jumbo Shrimp attracted 6,960 in the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on April 11, while the Marlins attracted just 6,150 the same night for a game against the New York Mets. The Jumbo Shrimp not only had the best SL crowd for an opener, but also the best draw for an opening series, average 7,549 for four games against Mobile with a high of 10,254 on April 14.
Guy Curtright is a contributor to MiLB.com.
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and