MLB names Shadow Hills grad Taylor Ward AL Player of the Week
Angels outfielder, and Shadow Hills grad, Taylor Ward has been named American League Player of the Week by MLB.
.@Warrdyboy7 and @willya02 have been lighting it up 🔥
— MLB (@MLB) May 2, 2022
They are your AL, NL @chevrolet Players of the Week. pic.twitter.com/GYmueMIA8E
Ward, 28, led the A.L. in hits (13), extra-base hits (7), total bases (29), runs (10), & OPS (1.484). He also hit four home runs and put together an amazing slash line of .448 average, .484 on-base percentage, and a 1.000 slugging percentage.
Taylor Ward is your A.L. Player of the Week!
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 2, 2022
Over the last week, Ward led the A.L. in hits (13), extra-base hits (7), total bases (29), runs (10), & OPS (1.484).
Congrats, @Warrdyboy7! pic.twitter.com/meG4VSYPGM
He tallied multiple hits in four of his seven games, highlighted by his first career multi-homer performance on April 25 vs. the Guardians. Two days later, Ward hit a grand slam and finished a single shy of the cycle.
atAngels is a Taylor Ward fan account #GoHalos pic.twitter.com/IT5NbnsjLw
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) April 28, 2022
Ward is having a great season despite starting late due to injury. Since his first at-bat on April 16, Ward has recorded 22 hits, including nine for extra bases, in 15 games. He has a .400 average and a 1.271 OPS through 55 at-bats.
Ward graduated from Shadow Hills High School in 2012. His stellar play at the high school level earned him a spot with Fresno State. In 2015, the Angels drafted Ward with the 26th pick of the first round.
After a few years in the minor leagues, Ward got the call up to the Major Leagues on August 14, 2018, playing against the San Diego Padres.
Awesome! Former SHHS standout Taylor Ward making his MLB debut tonight for the @Angels! Go get 'em @Warrdyboy7! The desert will be watching! @goknightsbb https://t.co/DVEZL5tNx9
— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) August 14, 2018
It's been a great week for local student-athletes. Over the weekend, Coachella Valley natives Tayler Hawkins and Daniel Whelan signed with NFL teams following the NFL draft.
