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Ryan Ward has earned this chance.
He's making his MLB debut on Sunday for the Los Angeles Dodgers, starting at first base in the absence of Freddie Freeman (paternity list).
It's been a long time coming for Ward, but he's put in the time in the minor leagues. He's got incredible numbers down on the farm.
Dave Roberts said the original plan was to have Dalton Rushing at first base today. He changed his mind to reward Ryan Ward with a debut.
When Roberts went to tell Rushing (one of Ward’s best friends in the org), Rushing said Ward earned it and was going to suggest the same.
Here's what you need to know about Ward as he finally gets a chance to play in the major leagues.
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Who is Ryan Ward?
Ward is a 28-year old Dodgers first baseman who is making his MLB debut on Sunday, April 19.
He's originally from Worcester, Massachusetts.
Ward played college baseball at Bryant University.
The Dodgers took him as an eighth-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft.
Ryan Ward minor league stats
Ward has hit 154 career minor league home runs, including 94 at the Triple-A level.
He has a career .857 OPS at Triple-A across 420 games.
Ward had an absurd 2025 season for Triple-A Oklahoma City -- 31 doubles, 36 homers, 122 RBI, a .290 batting average and a .937 OPS.
He also has minor league seasons with 34, 28, 27 and 21 home runs.
Clearly, Ward can leave the ballpark. He'll now try to prove he can do that in MLB.
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