The Los Angeles Dodgers added outfielder Ryan Ward to the 40-man roster on Thursday, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
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The decision prevents Ward from leaving the organization and becoming a free agent. It comes after he spent the entire 2025 season in Triple-A.
Ward, 27, is a former eighth-round pick by the Dodgers in 2019. The outfielder quickly worked his way up the organizational ranks, and has spent the last three seasons in Triple-A.
Last year, amid Michael Conforto’s struggles, there were plenty of calls for the Dodgers to give Ward an opportunity. However, that move never came.
Instead, Ward appeared in 143 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City, slashing .290/.380/.557 with 36 home runs and 122 runs batted in. He was named the 2025 Pacific Coast League MVP.
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Ward will now remain with the Dodgers organization for now, although it’s possible the team gauges his trade value around the league.
Michael Busch is a similar player who won PCL MVP in 2023, but never got a consistent opportunity with LA. The Dodgers ended up trading him to the Chicago Cubs, where he’s thrived. LA received two of the organization’s current top prospects — outfielder Zyhir Hope and left-handed pitcher Jackson Ferris — in the deal.
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