History of Taylor Ward in Timeline

Joseph Taylor Ward, commonly known as Taylor Ward, is an American professional baseball left fielder currently playing for the Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball (MLB). Prior to joining the Orioles, he played for the Los Angeles Angels. His career has been primarily focused in MLB, where he has established himself as a professional baseball player.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

December 12, 1993: Birth in Dayton, Ohio

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

December 14, 1993: Joseph Taylor Ward's Birthdate

Joseph Taylor Ward was born on December 14, 1993, marking the start of his life and eventual baseball career.

2008: High School Enrollment

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

2009: Move to California

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: Aaron Judge First Round Selection

In 2013, Aaron Judge was drafted in the first round of the MLB draft.

2013: Freshman Season at Fresno State

In 2013, Taylor Ward played his freshman season at California State University, Fresno, for the Fresno State Bulldogs. He had a .196 batting average with three home runs in 46 games. He also played summer baseball with the Anchorage Bucs.

2014: All-Mountain West Honors

In 2014, during his sophomore season, Taylor Ward earned two Mountain West Conference Player of the Week selections and was named to the All-Mountain West second team as a catcher, showcasing his growing talent in college baseball.

June 18, 2015: Professional Debut

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 the Angels

In 2015, Taylor Ward was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the first round of the MLB draft, 26th overall, a significant milestone in his baseball career.

2015: All-Mountain West First Team Selection

In 2015, Taylor Ward was named to the All-Mountain West first team as a catcher and was a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award, marking a successful junior season.

2016: Angels Spring Training and AFL All-Star

In 2016, Taylor Ward was invited to Angels spring training and was later selected as an Arizona Fall League (AFL) All-Star, showcasing his continued development in the Angels organization.

2017: Training with Trent Woodward

In 2017, Taylor Ward began training with Trent Woodward, who taught him a system using a range of swing styles to enhance results. The system focused on matching the angle of the incoming pitch with an uppercut swing.

2017: Promotion to Double-A

In 2017, Taylor Ward was promoted to the Double-A Mobile BayBears, where he continued to develop as a baseball player, marking another step in his minor league career.

August 14, 2018: MLB Debut Against Padres

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

2018: MLB.com prospect grading

In 2018, MLB.com graded Taylor Ward as a prospect, noting his excellent plate discipline and advanced approach, generating walks and limiting strikeouts. The report profiled him as a contact hitter, highlighting an increase in home run power.

2018: MLB Debut

In 2018, Taylor Ward made his MLB debut for the Los Angeles Angels, marking his entry into Major League Baseball.

2018: Position Change and All-Star Selection

In 2018, Taylor Ward transitioned to third base and was named a Southern League mid-season All-Star. He was later promoted to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, marking significant progress in his career.

2019: Position Change and Minor League Stint

In 2019, Taylor Ward experienced intermittent stints between Triple-A and the major leagues, including a position change to left fielder during a minor league stint in May.

2019: Outfield Conversion

In 2019, the Angels converted Taylor Ward to primarily play the outfield, a strategic shift in his role within the team.

2020: COVID-19 Season

In 2020, during the COVID-19-shortened season, Taylor Ward began with the major league club but was later optioned to the alternate training site before returning to finish the season with the Angels.

2021: Maddon's criticism of Ward's approach

In 2021, Angels manager Joe Maddon criticized Taylor Ward's hitting approach, suggesting that an overemphasis on contact angle was decreasing his productivity. Ward later clarified that Maddon wasn't fully aware of all the aspects of the system at the time.

2021: Grand Slam and Injury

In 2021, Taylor Ward hit his first career grand slam on June 17 and experienced an improved batting average as the season progressed, but also faced time on the injured list due to a right adductor strain.

2022: Birth of daughter

In 2022, Taylor Ward and his wife Taylor welcomed their first child, a daughter named Cameryn Taylor Ward, on November 21.

2022: Injuries and Strong Performance

In 2022, Taylor Ward began the season on the injured list and suffered a hamstring injury. Despite these setbacks, he had a strong performance, including being named American League Player of the Week, though his performance declined after a collision with the outfield wall.

2022: Breakout Season

In 2022, Taylor Ward had a breakout season, becoming the Angels' primary right fielder and leading qualified Angels batters with a .281 batting average and a .360 on-base percentage (OBP).

January 13, 2023: Contract and Position Change

On January 13, 2023, Taylor Ward signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Angels and was announced to be moving to left field.

2023: Moved to Left Field

In 2023, Taylor Ward moved to left field for the Angels, where he became one of the team's top producers.

2024: Ward's performance and season

In 2024, Taylor Ward fully recovered from an injury and played with a helmet that had an extended flap. He became a top run producer for the Angels after key player departures and injuries. He drove in a team-best 32 runs through late May, preferring batters ahead of him to reduce pressure. On May 28, 2024, Ward hit a go-ahead two-run double against the Yankees. On June 21, 2024, he hit a game-winning single against the Dodgers. On June 30, 2024, he was hit in the helmet by a 93 mph fastball, leading to a slump. On July 28, 2024, Ward hit a grand slam against the Athletics. He ended the 2024 season with a .246 batting average, 25 home runs, and 75 RBI.

May 12, 2025: Go-ahead grand slam

On May 12, 2025, Taylor Ward hit a go-ahead, ninth-inning grand slam off of Robert Suárez of the San Diego Padres in a 9-5 Angels victory.

November 18, 2025: Trade to the Baltimore Orioles

On November 18, 2025, Taylor Ward was traded from the Angels to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Grayson Rodriguez.

2025: Career High and Trade

In 2025, Taylor Ward recorded a career-high 36 home runs and a team-leading 103 runs batted in (RBIs) before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in the offseason.