Taylor Ward Bio
Joseph Taylor Ward, known professionally as Taylor Ward, is an American professional baseball left fielder for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on December 14, 1993, in Dayton, Ohio, Ward previously played for the Los Angeles Angels after being selected in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft.
Across his major league career, Ward has built a reputation as a power-hitting outfielder with a disciplined approach at the plate. He is recognized for his breakout 2022 campaign with the Angels, his career-high 36 home runs in 2025, and his ongoing role as a run-producer for the Orioles.
Early Life and Background
Joseph Taylor Ward was born on December 14, 1993, in Dayton, Ohio, to parents Joe and Samantha Ward. During his childhood, his family relocated to Oviedo, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, where he spent his earliest years around sports. He enrolled at Hagerty High School for his freshman year of high school in 2008.
In 2009, the Ward family moved again, this time to the Coachella Valley in Southern California, where he enrolled at the newly-opened Shadow Hills High School in Indio for his sophomore year. He played catcher for the Shadow Hills baseball team and emerged as a two-time De Anza League First Team selection. In his junior season, he was named the De Anza League MVP and Offensive Player of the Year while also earning First Team honors in the California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Section.
During his senior season, Ward caught for eventual MLB pitcher Tyson Miller, forming the team’s top battery. He committed to play college baseball at California State University, Fresno, becoming the first student in Shadow Hills history to receive an athletic scholarship from an NCAA Division I school. He was also selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 31st round of the 2012 MLB draft, but he did not sign, choosing instead to attend college.
Path to Baseball
Ward enrolled at California State University, Fresno, to play college baseball for the Fresno State Bulldogs. In 2013, his freshman season, his Bulldogs teammates included eventual major leaguers Aaron Judge, Jordan Luplow, and Austin Wynns. In his first college season, Ward posted a .196 batting average with three home runs and 15 runs batted in (RBIs) in 46 games. After the season, he made his collegiate summer baseball debut with the Anchorage Bucs of the Alaska Baseball League.
In 2014, during his sophomore season, Ward earned two Mountain West Conference Player of the Week selections. He finished the season batting .320 with six home runs and 41 RBIs, ranking second on the team in each category behind Luplow. He was named to the All-Mountain West second team as a catcher and made the 24-man roster of the United States collegiate national baseball team. That same summer, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
In 2015, his junior season, Ward batted .304 with seven home runs and 42 RBIs, leading the team in the latter two categories. He was named to the All-Mountain West first team as a catcher and was a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award, given annually to the best catcher in college baseball. Following his junior season, Ward was ranked as the 70th-best draft prospect by Baseball America and 99th by MLB.com.
Taylor Ward Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Ward was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft, the 26th overall pick, becoming the 17th player in Fresno State history to be selected in the first round. He signed with the Angels on June 12 for a $1,670,000 bonus. Ward made his professional debut with the Rookie Advanced-level Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League, where he was selected as a Pioneer League All-Star. Between Orem and the Single-A Burlington Bees, he batted .348 with three home runs and 31 RBIs in 56 games.
In 2016, Ward was promoted to the High-A Inland Empire 66ers of the California League, where he spent the entire year, batting .249 with ten home runs and 56 RBIs in 123 games. Following the season, he played for the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League and was selected as an AFL All-Star. In 2017, he split the year between Inland Empire and the Double-A Mobile BayBears, batting .258 with nine home runs and 49 RBIs across both levels, and was named an Angels Organization All-Star by MiLB.com for the second straight season.
Angels Breakthrough (2018–2022)
Prior to the 2018 season, the Angels converted Ward from catcher to a third baseman. He split that year between Mobile and the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, batting .345 with six home runs and 25 RBIs at Mobile, and .352 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs at Salt Lake. Ward was called up to the majors for the first time on August 14, 2018, and made his MLB debut that day against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. In his first plate appearance, he hit an RBI double off Brett Kennedy and finished his debut at 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.
From 2019 through 2021, Ward shuttled between Triple-A and the majors, converting to the outfield in 2019. In 2022, he became the Angels’ primary right fielder and delivered a breakout campaign, finishing the year batting .281 with 23 home runs and 65 RBIs in 135 games. His .281 batting average and .360 on-base percentage led all qualified Angels batters, and his 3.7 Wins Above Replacement ranked third on the team. He hit three grand slams during the season and was named American League Player of the Week for April 25 – May 1.
On January 13, 2023, Ward signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Angels, avoiding salary arbitration. He was moved to left field that season to make room for Hunter Renfroe, but on July 28, 2023, he took a pitch to the head against Toronto and suffered multiple facial fractures that ended his year. In 97 games, he batted .253 with 14 home runs and 47 RBI. By spring training 2024, Ward had fully recovered and was using an extended flap on his batting helmet to protect his face. He finished 2024 batting .246 with 25 home runs and 75 RBI in 156 games, becoming one of the top run-producers in the Angels lineup.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2026–Present)
On May 12, 2025, Ward hit a go-ahead, ninth-inning grand slam off San Diego Padres closer Robert Suárez in a 9–5 Angels victory at Petco Park. He finished the 2025 season batting .228 with 36 home runs and a team-leading 103 RBI in 157 games, setting a new career high in homers. On May 24, 2025, he broke Darin Erstad’s Angels franchise record with his 10th consecutive game recording an extra-base hit, and on May 26 he was named American League Player of the Week for May 19–25.
On November 18, 2025, the Angels traded Ward to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for pitcher Grayson Rodriguez. Ward joined the Orioles wearing No. 3, transitioning to a new organization while bringing his veteran bat and outfield experience to Baltimore’s lineup. Through his early Orioles tenure, he has continued to serve as a middle-of-the-order presence.
Notable Events and Milestones
Ward hit his first career grand slam on June 17, 2021, off Kyle Funkhouser in a 7–5 win over the Detroit Tigers. On May 24, 2025, he set an Angels franchise record with 10 consecutive games recording an extra-base hit, surpassing Darin Erstad. Across his career, he has produced three grand slams in a single season, multiple walk-off home runs, and an American League Player of the Week honor in both 2022 and 2025.
Taylor Ward Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Taylor Ward has built a résumé highlighted by offensive milestones at the plate rather than traditional win totals. He earned three mid-season All-Star selections in the minor leagues, two Angels Organization All-Star nods, and multiple American League Player of the Week awards at the major league level.
Angels Era Highlights
Ward made his MLB debut on August 14, 2018, against the San Diego Padres, recording an RBI double in his first plate appearance. He delivered a career-defining 2022 season in which he batted .281 with 23 home runs and 65 RBIs, leading the Angels in batting average and on-base percentage. In 2025, he set a career high with 36 home runs and 103 RBIs, anchoring the middle of the Angels lineup before his trade to Baltimore.
Other Wins and Performances
At the minor league level, Ward was a Pioneer League All-Star in 2015, an Arizona Fall League All-Star in 2016, a Southern League mid-season All-Star in 2018, and a multi-time Angels Organization All-Star. He also represented the United States collegiate national baseball team in 2014 and was a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award as the top catcher in college baseball.
Taylor Ward Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Taylor Ward was born to parents Joe and Samantha Ward. His family moved from Dayton, Ohio, to Oviedo, Florida, during his early childhood, and later relocated to Indio, California, where he attended Shadow Hills High School. He became the first student in Shadow Hills history to receive an NCAA Division I athletic scholarship.
Personal Life
Ward is married to his wife, Taylor, and the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Cameryn Taylor Ward, on November 21, 2022. The family has continued to be part of his support system as he has moved between organizations during his major league career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a career-best power year for Taylor Ward with the Los Angeles Angels. He hit 36 home runs and drove in a team-leading 103 runs in 157 games, both personal bests, and he set an Angels franchise record by recording an extra-base hit in 10 consecutive games. His production was punctuated by a pair of go-ahead grand slams in May and an American League Player of the Week award for May 19–25.
Although his batting average finished at .228, Ward remained a constant run-producing force in the middle of the Angels lineup, delivering clutch hits in tight games. His 2025 campaign helped restore his value across the league and positioned him for a fresh start with a contender following the season.
On November 18, 2025, the Angels traded Ward to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, ending his seven-year tenure in Los Angeles. The move to Baltimore gave Ward a new opportunity heading into his eighth major league season, with the Orioles counting on his left-handed power bat and outfield versatility as they looked to remain a contender in the American League East.
