Ryan Ward’s crowded path to playing time with the Los Angeles Dodgers has led him to a new opportunity in Japan.
Ryan Ward’s time in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization has come to an end after the club sold the first baseman and outfielder’s contract to the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball.
The move closes a six-year run in the Dodgers’ system for Ward, who spent much of that time establishing himself as one of the organization’s more consistent power hitters while waiting for an extended opportunity in the major leagues.
Ward originally joined Los Angeles as an eighth-round selection in the 2019 MLB Draft. His path through the organization was not particularly quick, however, as he did not reach Triple-A until the 2023 season.
Ward reached majors with Dodgers
That first full season at the highest level of the minors showed both the power that had made Ward an intriguing prospect and some of the limitations that had kept him from reaching the majors earlier. He hit 21 home runs for Oklahoma City, but his overall offensive production was more modest.
Ward took a major step forward the following season.
He erupted for 33 home runs in 2024, establishing himself as a legitimate power threat in the Dodgers’ Triple-A lineup. Rather than being a one-year spike, the production continued into 2025, when he hit another 36 home runs for Oklahoma City.
Despite that power, finding a consistent path to playing time in Los Angeles remained difficult.
The Dodgers already had established options occupying the positions where Ward could potentially contribute.
Shohei Ohtani has primarily handled designated hitter duties, while Freddie Freeman has remained entrenched at first base. The outfield also continued to feature established major-league players, creating another obstacle for a player whose primary calling card was his bat.
Ward eventually received his opportunity in the majors, but it came in limited stretches rather than as a regular role.
He accumulated 60 plate appearances with Los Angeles this season, hitting .218/.283/.455. His Triple-A production also declined from the previous two seasons, with Ward finishing at .249/.349/.430 for Oklahoma City.
At the same time, the Dodgers’ organization continued to add younger options capable of competing for similar opportunities.
Younger prospects shrunk Ward's time
When Ohtani landed on the Injured List, Los Angeles turned to Josue De Paula, promoting the highly regarded prospect directly from Double-A. Mike Sirota also moved from Double-A to Triple-A, while Eduardo Quintero finished his season at the Double-A level.
Those developments made Ward’s position within the organization increasingly difficult.
After years of waiting for an extended major-league opportunity, Ward was designated for assignment last week. With Los Angeles carrying several younger outfield options and needing to make room on its roster, the Dodgers ultimately moved on from the 28-year-old.
For Ward, the result is a new chapter after spending his entire professional career in the Dodgers organization.
His development in Los Angeles was defined by patience and power. Although he never secured a permanent role with the Dodgers, his production in the minors eventually earned him a chance to reach the major leagues.
Now, that opportunity continues in Japan, where Ward will look to build on the power that carried him through the Dodgers’ system and establish himself in a new professional environment.
