History of Taylor Ward in Timeline

Taylor Ward is a professional baseball player from the United States, currently playing left field for the Los Angeles Angels in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

December 12, 1993: Birth of Joseph Taylor Ward

On December 12, 1993, Joseph Taylor Ward was born in Dayton, Ohio, to parents Joe and Samantha Ward.

December 14, 1993: Birth of Joseph Taylor Ward

On December 14, 1993, Joseph Taylor Ward was born. He would later become a professional baseball player.

2008: Enrollment at Hagerty High School

In 2008, Taylor Ward enrolled at Hagerty High School for his freshman year.

2009: Family move to Coachella Valley

In 2009, Taylor Ward's family moved to the Coachella Valley in Southern California, where he enrolled at Shadow Hills High School in Indio for his sophomore year.

2012: Drafted by Tampa Bay Rays (Did Not Sign)

In 2012, Taylor Ward was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 31st round of the Major League Baseball draft but did not sign with the team, opting to attend college instead.

2013: Fresno State teammate

In 2013, Aaron Judge was a teammate of Taylor Ward at Fresno State and was also selected in the first round of the MLB draft.

2013: Freshman Season at Fresno State

In 2013, during his freshman season at Fresno State, Taylor Ward had a .196 batting average with three home runs. He later played summer baseball with the Anchorage Bucs.

2014: All-Mountain West Selection

In 2014, Taylor Ward was named to the All-Mountain West second team as a catcher after batting .320 with six home runs for Fresno State. He also earned two Mountain West Conference Player of the Week selections and played for the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

June 18, 2015: Professional Debut with Orem Owlz

On June 18, 2015, Taylor Ward made his professional debut with the Orem Owlz, going 0-for-4 against the Ogden Raptors.

2015: Drafted by Los Angeles Angels

In 2015, Taylor Ward was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the first round of the MLB draft and signed with them on June 12 for a $1,670,000 bonus.

2015: All-Mountain West First Team Selection

In 2015, during his junior season, Taylor Ward batted .304 with seven home runs and 42 RBIs, leading the team in the latter two categories and was named to the All-Mountain West first team. He was also a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award.

2016: Angels Spring Training and All-Star Season

In 2016, Taylor Ward was a non-roster invitee to Angels spring training. He was promoted to the Inland Empire 66ers and was named an AFL All-Star and an Angels Organization All-Star.

2017: Ward begins training with Trent Woodward

In 2017, Taylor Ward began training with Trent Woodward, focusing on a system that utilizes a range of swing styles. They met monthly to train, emphasizing bat angle to match the incoming pitch.

2017: Season with Inland Empire and Mobile BayBears

In 2017, Taylor Ward played with the Inland Empire 66ers and later was promoted to the Double-A Mobile BayBears. He was also named an Angels Organization All-Star for the second straight season.

August 14, 2018: MLB Debut

On August 14, 2018, Taylor Ward was called up to the majors and made his MLB debut against the San Diego Padres, hitting an RBI double in his first plate appearance.

2018: MLB.com Prospect Grading

In 2018, MLB.com graded Taylor Ward as a prospect with a 50 for hitting, 40 for power and running, 65 for arm strength, 50 for fielding, and 50 overall. The report highlighted his plate discipline and approach, noting increased home run power.

2018: MLB Debut

In 2018, Taylor Ward made his Major League Baseball debut after spending four seasons in the Angels farm system.

2018: Conversion to Third Baseman

In 2018, Taylor Ward was converted from catcher to a third baseman by the Angels. He was named a Southern League mid-season All-Star and was named an Angels Organization All-Star.

2019: Conversion to Outfield

In 2019, Taylor Ward was converted to primarily play the outfield by the Angels, leading to competition for playing time.

2019: Minor League Stints and Outfield Conversion

In 2019, Taylor Ward was sent between Triple-A and the major leagues. He was converted to play left fielder during a minor league stint in May.

2020: COVID-19 Shortened Season

In 2020, during the COVID-19-shortened season, Taylor Ward played with the major league club, switching between left and right field. He was optioned to the alternate training site in August and recalled in September, hitting .277 with five RBIs in 34 games.

2021: Maddon criticizes Ward's training approach

In 2021, Angels manager Joe Maddon criticized Taylor Ward's training approach with Trent Woodward, suggesting it decreased Ward's productivity due to an overemphasis on contact angle. Ward clarified that Maddon was not fully aware of all aspects of the system at the time.

2021: Time with the Angels and Injury

In 2021, Taylor Ward hit his first career grand slam on June 17 against the Detroit Tigers. He was later optioned to Salt Lake, placed on the injured list, and finished the season hitting .250 with eight home runs.

2022: Breakout Season

In 2022, Taylor Ward had a breakout season, batting .281 with 23 home runs for the Angels. He was named American League Player of the Week for April 25 – May 1. He also suffered a hamstring injury and was placed on the injured list. He finished the season batting .281 with 23 home runs and 65 RBIs in 135 games.

January 13, 2023: Contract with the Angels

On January 13, 2023, Taylor Ward signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Angels, avoiding salary arbitration.

July 28, 2023: Facial Injuries

On July 28, 2023, Taylor Ward took a pitch to the head during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, resulting in multiple facial fractures and ending his season.

2023: Moved to Left Field

In 2023, Taylor Ward was moved to left field for the Los Angeles Angels.

2024: Ward becomes top run-producer for Angels

In 2024, during spring training, Taylor Ward recovered from an injury and began playing again. With key players absent, he became a leading run-producer for the Angels. He led the team with 32 runs through late May. Ward finished the 2024 season batting .246 with 25 home runs and 75 RBIs in 156 games.