I used to be driving on the ten freeway in Los Angeles throughout rush hour the opposite day once I had one other urge to cosplay Michael Douglas in Falling Down. Being the accountable citizen that I’m, I reduce off a number of automobiles to exit, ran a purple gentle then made my manner again onto the freeway from a non-turn lane. I turned off the A/C and opened the window so I might really feel alive by inhaling all of the smog and CO2. Vacation spot? Anaheim! After 4 hours of hell, made worse by listening to Gray cackle via the audio system, I lastly made it. And boy, what a visit it was! Like consuming a pound of mushrooms journey. I noticed large mice and geese terrorizing little youngsters. I noticed angels hovering within the outfield. I went to a bar and overheard individuals saying the Angels as soon as had Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani on the identical group and sucked. I wanted to return down from this journey, so I one way or the other managed to discover a hospital and instructed them to hook me as much as an IV pronto, any IV. Hey! Why is that this bag glistening like gold? As I began to regain sanity, I heard some muttering. I seemed to my left and noticed some man in a strait-jacket, repeating “45” over and over. On his brow was taped his info: Taylor Ward. Right here’s his story:
Ward is 31 years previous, 6-foot, 200 kilos, and bats from the correct aspect. The Angels chosen him with the twenty sixth general decide within the 2015 MLB Draft.
Early in his minor league profession, Ward confirmed actually good plate self-discipline however with little energy or pace. After three years of growth and expertise, Ward turned an all-around offensive risk, slashing .349/.446/.531 with 14.6% stroll price, 21.1% strikeout price, and .181 ISO. He completed with 14 residence runs and 18 stolen bases in 446 plate appearances.
Ward made his MLB later that 12 months and predictably struggled. The strikeout price ballooned to 30.6% whereas the slash was .178/.245/.333 in 147 plate appearances. He did rack up six residence runs and two stolen bases.
2022 is when Ward turned a major a part of the group, receiving 564 plate appearances. He slashed .281/.360/.473 with a ten.6% stroll price, 21.4% strikeout price and .192 ISO. He completed with 23 residence runs and 5 stolen bases.
Final season, Ward hit 25 residence runs and stole six bases. The stroll price was 9.5% whereas the strikeout price was 24.6%. The ISO was .179 with a .246/.323/.426 slash. Contemplating that he hit .253 in 409 plate appearances in the course of the 2023 season, that .281 season looks like the outlier, particularly because the BABIP was .325 that season.
In 45 plate ap….AHHHHHH! 45. 45. 45. 45.
….pearances to start out this season, Ward is slashing .190/.222/.214. Gross. The ISO is .024!
The typical exit velocity is 89.5 mph with a maxEV of 110.3. Within the prior three seasons, the typical exit velocity was within the 90 mph vary. The maxEV acquired to a excessive of 112.4 mph. The launch angle is 14 levels after being 17.4 final season. The barrel price of 5.3% is manner beneath the 13% mark final season. The arduous hit price continues to be above 40%, although.
Wanting on the batted ball knowledge, Ward is pulling the ball and hitting it into the bottom extra. The GB/FB is 1.33. Within the prior three seasons, it by no means reached 1.
The plate self-discipline numbers look high-quality. The chase price of 19.5% is a profession low whereas the contact price of 88.1% within the zone is properly above the profession quantity. The swinging strike price is a paltry 5.5%. The numbers that stand out to me are the primary strike proportion, swing proportion and outside-the-zone contact price.
Ward is seeing a 64.4% first strike price. That quantity was 61.4% final season and within the mid-to-high 50% vary the prior two seasons. Couple that with a 59.5% swing price and Ward is falling behind within the depend somewhat extra regularly. Ward had a swing price of 62.5% final season and was over 60% within the prior two seasons.
The ultimate piece to the puzzle is the outside-the-zone contact price of 81.3%. It was 47.6% final season and within the mid-50% vary the prior two seasons. This explains the .024 ISO and .229 BABIP, which ties into the lowered barrel price. Taylor Ward is making nice contact on pitcher’s pitches, leading to outs. I don’t suppose it’s a timing situation, because the chase price would doubtless be elevated in that situation.
I’m pondering that he’s falling behind in counts, placing him on his heels. I’ve a sense that he’ll begin being extra aggressive earlier within the depend after which alter when the pitchers make the adjustment.
Ward is batting leadoff and it’s solely a matter of time earlier than he begins shedding the strait-jacket and swinging bombs into the outfield seats.
