Orioles-Nation
/ / / /
  • Start Here
  • Transactions
  • About
    • Staff
    • FAQs
    • Privacy
  • Contact
    • Mailbag
  • Links
  • Subscribe
    • via Email
  • Home
  • Forums
    • Baltimore Orioles
    • Minor Leagues
    • MLB Draft
    • Game Threads
    • Around the Majors
  • Blog
  • Top Prospects
  • Minors
    • Minors Blog
      • Norfolk Tides Blog
      • Bowie Baysox Blog
      • Frederick Keys Blog
      • Delmarva Shorebirds Blog
      • Aberdeen IronBirds Blog
      • GCL Orioles Blog
    • Minor League Scores
    • Minors Archives
  • Orioles
    • Orioles Blog
    • O’s Archives
      • Game Recaps
      • Orioles History
  • MLB Draft
    • MLB Draft Blog
    • MLB Draft Archives
  • Players
    • Sort Players
      • Alphabetically
      • Options Remaining
      • Position
      • Rule 5 Draft Eligible
    • Former Players
    • Recently Added
    • Recently Updated
  • Library
    • Scouting
    • Statistics
    • General
    • People
  • Rosters

ON Top 50 Prospects 2012 – #44: Brian Ward

Published by Jordan Tuwiner on February 22, 2012

Background

Brian Ward was signed by the Orioles as a non-drafted free agent in 2009 out of Lewis-Clark (Idaho) State College.

He was sent to play with the IronBirds, where he immediately began to show off his patient approach at the plate and plus defensive skills — the two things that have carried him throughout his professional career. He posted 20 walks and struck out just 16 times in 137 plate appearances while throwing out 35% of base stealers.

While he still flashed strong defensive skills, Ward struggled at the plate for most of 2010, hitting just .199 in 289 plate appearances for the Keys.

Ward was sent back to Frederick for 2011 and began to show progression offensively. On top of his improvements at the plate, Ward raised his CS% to an outstanding 53%.

Rankings >>
Jordan Don
#50 #37

Scouting Report

Don: Ward has really picked up his skills defensively. He has eliminated a great deal of wasted movement behind the plate.

His patience in waiting until the last second to set up gives almost no tell to the hitters, which bodes well for him handling a staff.

I clocked him well enough to think that he is an above replacement catcher defensively and grades out well enough to make an impact defensively with limited at bats.

He has a sound idea for strike zone judgement and makes necessary in game adjustments to remain a patient hitter at the plate.  He has a strong core and thick trunk, so there is some pop potential in the bat.

Brian Ward orioles

Ward has really picked up his skills defensively and has eliminated a great deal of wasted movement behind the plate.

He tends to have a wide base with limited loading.  He does draw back, but is still shallow, and goes quickly through the zone.  I wonder if the wide base might limit his hip turn.  If he narrows it, he could improve the torque and whip his bat head around sooner.

I do not know if the Orioles tweaked him to limit the movements; this is just something I saw.  His ability at the plate could be late blooming because he lacked the early exposure that most tend to get against quality competition. He has a patient approach and his selective hitting keeps him in a position to make contact, hit for average and get on base.

He calls a good game at this point, but if he can show a serviceable bat in spring training it would go a long way towards getting him a role with the parent club or another club in the near future.  There is room for him as a backup catcher in this league, if he continues to improve.

Future

In early 2012, he is going to be the starting backstop at Bowie and depending on his progression he could push Caleb Joseph for a role at Norfolk, which is not entirely out of the question given his defensive ability.

He could be one injury, or bad play by Taylor Teagarden, away from seeing extensive time in Baltimore.

View Orioles Nation’s full top 50 list >>
Discuss Brian Ward in our Minors Forum >>

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
2009 23 Aberdeen NYPL A- BAL 36 137 107 10 27 2 1 1 13 20 16 .252 .385 .318 .703
2010 24 Frederick CARL A+ BAL 83 289 236 28 47 7 0 2 30 39 58 .199 .322 .254 .576
2011 25 Frederick CARL A+ BAL 104 387 335 43 85 22 0 7 32 42 54 .254 .339 .382 .721
3 Seasons 223 813 678 81 159 31 1 10 75 101 128 .235 .340 .327 .668
Tweet

About The Author

Jordan Tuwiner - Founder and Executive Editor

Jordan founded Orioles-Nation.com in November 2009. He is a computer science & business major at Towson University. He is the site programmer, designer, editor and primary minor league writer. He also contributes to and maintains the site’s prospect rankings and scouting reports. Jordan's work has been recognized in a number of publications including MASN, The Baltimore Sun, MLB Trade Rumors, FanGraphs and Project Prospect. In addition, Jordan is a special contributor to John Sickels’ (formerly of ESPN.com) blog, Minor League Ball. Read more about Jordan at JordanTuwiner.com and follow him on Google+ and on Twitter @JordanTuwiner.

← Previous Next →

O’s News in Your Inbox

Subscribe to our email list & get the following in your inbox:
  • Daily O's minor league recaps during the season
  • Weekly O's minor league recaps
  • Exclusive O's minor league scouting reports

Featured Posts

Brenden Webb
ON Top 50 Prospects 2013 – #31: Brenden Webb
Connor Narron THUMB
ON Top 50 Prospects 2013 – #32: Connor Narron
Photo:  Joy R. Absalon/MLB.comBrian Ward of the Frederick Keys
ON Top 50 Prospects 2013 – #33: Brian Ward
Jaime Esquivel THUMB
ON Top 50 Prospects 2013 – #34: Jaime Esquivel
Matt Taylor THUMB
ON Top 50 Prospects 2013 – #35: Matt Taylor

Who is Behind Orioles Nation?

Jordan Tuwiner My name is Jordan Tuwiner and I'm a computer science major at Towson University.

I founded Orioles Nation in November 2009. Since then it has grown into a trusted source for Orioles minor and major league information.

Follow me on Twitter @JordanTuwiner. Read more about me »

Support Orioles Nation

Everything on Orioles-Nation is free, but for those interested in making any monetary donations to help support the stability and growth of this site please click on the "Donate" button below.

Copyright © 2013 Orioles-Nation.

Designed by Jordan Tuwiner. Hosted by GoDaddy.