Ward taken by Dodgers in 8th round of MLB Draft

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University baseball redshirt sophomore Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) was selected in the eighth round, 251st overall, by the Los Angeles Dodgers on day two of the Major League Baseball Draft.

Ward becomes the 16th Bulldog drafted over the last seven seasons. Bryant has now had five players drafted in the top 10 rounds in that span.

 "We are excited for Ryan!" head coach Steve Owens said. "He has performed at a very high level for two years and is a talented player. His aggressive style of hitting is impressive, as is his mature approach. He is a complete baseball player and a very good person and teammate. Success will continue in his future."

After missing all but two games of his true freshman season in 2017, Ward has put together two of the most prolific seasons in Bryant history the last two years. This spring, he collected 95 hits, 15 doubles, a DI program-record 13 home runs, 51 RBI and 59 runs scored. Ward added 30 walks and struck out just 17 times on the season. He also became the quickest player in program history to record 200 career hits, ending the 2019 season with 206.

Ward turned heads in 2018 when he hit .409 with 101 hits and 157 total bases on his way to Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Co-National Freshman Player of the Year honors. He finished in the top 15 nationally in toughest to strikeout the last two seasons and is tied for second in DI program history with 23 home runs.