A power-hitting minor leaguer languishes in Los Angeles. Could this forgotten Dodger outfield slugger finally find his big league opportunity in Pittsburgh?
It is hard to fathom that an anonymous player on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 40-man roster could help the Pittsburgh Pirates immediately.
The Dodgers wouldn’t seem to have any anonymous players. They are the behemoths of baseball after winning back-to-back World Series and being favored to win another title this year.
However, left-handed-hitting outfielder Ryan Ward is known only to those who follow the sport very closely. He is 27 years old, has been in professional baseball since being drafted in the eighth round in 2019 out of Bryan University, and had a monster season at the Triple-A level last year. Yet Ward has never appeared in a major-league game.
The Dodgers never called up Ward last season, though he hit .290/.380/.557 with 36 home runs, 122 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases in 143 games for Oklahoma City. And it wasn’t just a fluky year.
Ward has hit 150 homers in 678 minor-league games and 3,003 plate appearances. He has belted at least 21 homers in each of the last five seasons, including 33 for Oklahoma City in 2024.
Yet Ward is one of the best-kept secrets in baseball. Baseball America does not rank him among the Dodgers’ top 30 prospects – not surprising considering his age – and his path to a big-league career with Los Angeles is blocked. The Dodgers have a star-studded starting outfield with Teoscar Hernandez in left field, Mookie Betts in center field, and Kyle Tucker in right field. The trio is ably backed up by lefty-mashing Alex Call.
Pittsburgh would likely be able to get Ward from the Dodgers in a trade, according to multiple baseball sources. A prospect like right-hander Khristian Curtis might get a deal done. Expected to start the upcoming season at Double-A Altoona, Curtis is ranked as the Pirates’ 15th-best prospect by Baseball America.
Pittsburgh could also get a second player back in a potential trade if they part with Curtis. One intriguing prospect is outfielder Landyn Vidourek, rated No. 27 in the Dodgers’ system by Baseball America. Vidourek was drafted in the third round last year from the University of Cincinnati and hit .313/.378/.463 with one homer in 16 games for High-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Perhaps Ward is a “4A” player, someone who is too good for Triple-A but not good enough for the big leagues. However, power hitters who don't make big money are rare, which is why the Pirates should have interest in Ward.
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