Red Sox prospect Ward turns on the heat in Fall League

MESA, Ariz. — Thad Ward could also be identified finest for his slider, however his fastball stood out in his first Arizona Fall League begin.

Ward went 4 2/3 innings and struck out seven because the Scottsdale Scorpions cruised to a 12-5 victory, their second win over the Mesa Photo voltaic Sox within the first two days of the developmental circuit’s season. The Purple Sox right-hander operated principally at 91-94 mph together with his two-seamer however situated it nicely and notched all seven of his whiffs together with his second-best pitch.

“The fastball was working nicely,” Ward mentioned. “I feel numerous it was because of mixing in numerous sliders in early to attempt to get them off of that after which beating them with the fastball. My catcher, Andy [Thomas of the Giants], did a very good job of calling pitches and made certain we blended it up fairly nicely so we did not get predictable. It simply labored out that method.”

Ward’s go-to pitch is an 81-85 mph slider with late chew that he can each land for strikes or get hitters to chase out of the zone. To make the bounce from Double-A, the place he completed this season, he says he is aware of he’ll should proceed to refine his fastball command and enhance his changeup.

After the Purple Sox signed Ward out of Central Florida as a fifth-round decide in 2018, he transformed from faculty reliever to professional starter and received the group’s Minor League pitcher of the 12 months award in his first full season. However he barely pitched within the subsequent two years due to the pandemic shutdown in 2020 and Tommy John surgical procedure after two Double-A begins in 2021.

Boston’s No. 15 prospect returned to the mound this July and posted a 2.28 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings throughout 4 ranges. He did not permit a run in his first 4 outings however mentioned it took some time for him to change into assured that he had totally regained his earlier stuff.

“There have been glimmers the place I believed, ‘OK, now I am totally again,’ after which there’d be an outing or two the place I did not really feel fairly nearly as good,” Ward mentioned. “So it has been a little bit little bit of forwards and backwards. It took a little bit bit to the place I lastly felt like myself once more up on the mound and never having to make some changes and I might simply compete.”

Ward might make it to the Majors in some unspecified time in the future in 2023, however that would not be the primary time he has worn a Purple Sox uniform in a giant league dugout. He grew up in Fort Myers, Fla., the membership’s Spring Coaching house, and served as a batboy for the crew. Present Boston supervisor Alex Cora and coach Jason Varitek performed for the Purple Sox throughout Ward’s batboy days, although he says he hasn’t tried to speak to both of them about his previous.

Middle fielder Luis Matos (the Giants’ No. 3 prospect) powered Scottsdale by going 2-for-5 with 4 RBIs — two on a 361-foot homer to left off right-hander Jorge Mercedes (Marlins) within the fifth inning. DH Nick Yorke (Purple Sox No. 4) and proper fielder Heston Kjerstad (Orioles No. 9) drove in two runs every in a Scorpions assault that featured extra walks (12) than hits (eight). First baseman Niko Kavadas (Purple Sox No. 21) and Kyren Paris (Angels No. 20) drew three free passes apiece.

Cubs nook outfielders offered most of Mesa’s offense. Brennen Davis (MLB No. 48) hammered a uncommon Ward mistake for a two-run homer that traveled 390 toes within the third inning, and Tenth-ranked Chicago prospect Owen Caissie drilled a two-run double within the ninth.

Photo voltaic Sox starter Mason Miller (Athletics No. 20) repeatedly reached triple digits together with his fastball and topped out at 102 mph, however he additionally battled the strike zone. He issued two walks and plunked a batter, permitting a success and three runs earlier than departing after 1 2/3 innings.