This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
BALTIMORE -- Earlier this year, Taylor Ward couldn’t stop hitting doubles. The 32-year-old outfielder had 10 two-baggers through 13 games in his first season in Baltimore (all 10 came during a nine-game stretch from March 31-April 10). His 13 doubles are tied with Toronto’s Ernie Clement and Detroit’s Riley Greene for the American League lead.
More recently, Ward has developed a new trend -- he can’t stop walking.
Ward has drawn 28 walks over his past 19 games after picking up one in the Orioles’ series-opening 3-2 win vs. the Yankees at Camden Yards on Monday night, a span that has included eight multiwalk performances and a trio of three-walk showings (April 30 vs. Houston, last Wednesday vs. Miami and Saturday vs. the Athletics).
After Monday, Ward was MLB’s leader in both walks (41) and on-base percentage (.422, tied with Milwaukee's Brice Turang). Ward's 40 walks through his first 40 games played were an O’s record (since 1954), breaking the previous mark of 39 set by Albert Belle in 1999.
Ward has to be pleased with his rapidly growing walk total, right?
“I mean, at this point, I’m pleased to have them just because I’ve been kind of scuffling. So I’ll take it,” Ward said. “I think that that’s just the best way to kind of maintain things when you’re trying to get back on what you do. So, I’m grateful for it, want to keep it going, but also, add a little bit of singles, power and maybe some other things.”
It’s easy to understand why Ward wants his offense to be more well-rounded. He is 2-for-32 (.063) over his past 12 games, as his average has dropped from .313 to .257 (though his OBP has only dropped to .422 because he’s continued to walk so much).
Also, Ward has hit only one home run (a three-run blast on April 19 at Cleveland) after slugging a career-high 36 long balls over 157 games for the Angels last season.
But Ward is taking what pitchers are giving him at the moment. And it’s not surprising that opponents may be attacking him more carefully after his torrid start to the year.
Ward’s 10.7% chase rate entering Monday was the best in MLB, as was his 21.9% walk rate (as to be expected from the Majors’ walks leader).
“When I do get in the zone, hitting it on the ground is no good. So I think that comes back to me, not necessarily them and how they’re pitching me. But at some point, they’re going to miss, and I’ve got to be ready for it,” Ward said. “Any time they throw a ball, I don’t want to swing at it. I do my best work when it’s in the middle, in the heart of the plate. So I just want to make sure I get it there and not chase. I kick myself when I do, and I take a lot of pride in it, for sure.”
Ward is on pace to draw 158 walks this year. The AL/NL record is 232 (Barry Bonds in 2004), while only four players have posted 158 or more in a season -- Bonds, Babe Ruth (1920, 1923), Mark McGwire (1998) and Ted Williams (1947, 1949).
The O’s record (since 1954) could be more attainable for Ward, as Ken Singleton drew 118 walks in 1975.
Only two Baltimore players have previously finished a season as MLB’s walks leader -- Eddie Murray (107 in 1984) and Norm Siebern (106 in ‘64). No Oriole has finished a year with the highest OBP in the big leagues, though Frank Robinson (.410 in 1966), Murray (.410 in ‘84) and Melvin Mora (.419 in 2004) led the AL.
While Ward hopes to diversify his offensive output, the O’s believe that will happen naturally as the season progresses.
“It’s kind of early season baseball a little bit. You kind of get those fluctuations,” hitting coach Dustin Lind said. “But he’s been really prepared. He’s been really keyed in on what he wants to do. The damage opportunities just haven’t really presented themselves yet. But he’s been really focused, and the work he’s done has been awesome.
“So, it’s really exciting to see that added to his skill set a little bit, with the understanding that there’s probably going to be a lot more power on the way as we get down the road.”