The Los Angeles Dodgers designated outfielder Ryan Ward for assignment ahead of their game against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Ward, the 2025 Pacific Coast League MVP, played just 20 games for the Dodgers in MLB over the course of seven years in their organization. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers reinstated All-Star left-handed pitcher Kris Bubic from the 60-day injured list and optioned right-handed reliever Paul Gervase.
Ward made headlines in 2025 during an incredible season, hitting 36 homers and tallying 122 RBIs over the course of 143 games with the Oklahoma City Comets. He got his shot in 2026, making his MLB debut with the team in April. He logged two hits against the Colorado Rockies in his debut, and made a pinch-hit appearance the following day before returning to the minors.
The Dodgers called him back up at the end of May, and he got off to a good start—hitting his first MLB home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in his first game back. He had a solid group of games after that, homering twice more by June 10, but struggled to produce in the following days. The Dodgers optioned him back to Triple-A on June 29.
Through his 20 games in the big leagues, he had a .738 OPS with three homers and 12 RBIs. While Ward is historically a good hitter in Triple-A and definitely has value on an MLB roster, the Dodgers' incredibly deep roster and multitude of outfield prospects made it difficult for the 28-year-old to get a shot. The Dodgers' preference for other options over Ward became apparent before their series against the Miami Marlins, when they called up No. 1 prospect Josue De Paula over Ward, who already had a spot on the 40-man roster.
De Paula, like Ward, is a left-handed bat, and his presence in the lineup erases the need for Ward on the roster. The Dodgers can still retain Ward, as he could clear waivers, but with his track record in the minors over the past few years, odds are that a team takes a chance on him as the season winds down.
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