Taylor Ward has made history in his first season with the Baltimore Orioles.
Not every acquisition the Baltimore Orioles made this past offseason has worked out so far. At the quarter mark of the season, Baltimore has not lived up to expectations, entering Monday’s series against the New York Yankees with an 18-23 record. The team has struggled to stack wins, and several additions have yet to make the impact the front office hoped for.
However, Taylor Ward has been a massive success in his first year with Baltimore. The 32-year-old veteran outfielder was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels this past offseason in exchange for right-hander Grayson Rodriguez.
It was a risky move at the time, considering Rodriguez was once a promising prospect with years of team control remaining, while Ward is approaching unrestricted free agency after the 2026 season. But the gamble has paid off so far. Ward has been one of the best and most consistent hitters in the Orioles lineup. And on Sunday, he made history in the batter's box.
“Taylor Ward has tied the Orioles record (since 1954) for most walks through 40 games played in a season. He drew his 39th walk of 2026 in the 1st inning today. The only other player to record 39 walks over his first 40 games played was Albert Belle in 1999,” reported Jake Rill of MLB.com.
Ward has not always been known for having a reliable eye at the plate, which makes this feat even more surprising. In 2025, he drew just 75 walks across 157 games. Now he has totaled 40 walks in only 40 games, showing a dramatic improvement in plate discipline. His 40 free passes lead all MLB hitters.
It has been a strange season for Ward overall. He has just one home run and 12 RBIs, but he leads the American League with 13 doubles. He is hitting .262 with a .426 on-base percentage and an .802 OPS. If Ward can turn some of those doubles into home runs, his already strong start could look even better.
Ward is currently in his ninth MLB season. He spent his first eight years with the Angels, the organization that drafted him in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft and developed him into a productive outfielder.
If the Orioles want to climb out of their early-season hole, Ward will need to continue being the consistent presence he has been through the first 40 games.