Fresno State Athletics
Q&A with Taylor Ward
10/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
By: Travis Blanshan
tblanshan@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - On June 8, former Fresno State baseball player Taylor Ward became the 18th Bulldog to be selected in first round of the MLB Draft as he was selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the 26th overall pick. We recently sat down with the former 'Diamond Dog to see how his first season as a professional went and what the future has in store for him.
Q: Take us back to draft night, what did it mean to you to hear that the Angels were selecting you with the 26th overall selection?
Ward: It was great. I knew the Angels were very interested throughout the year, coming to almost every game. We actually made a deal 24 hours before the draft, and I was made aware that I was going to go in the first round. It was a deal between myself, my agent and the organization. I am very fortunate and we were able to get a small party together, but nobody really knew what was going on. My family knew, but nobody else did, so it was cool to see their reaction when it happened. It was a really good night.
Q: How satisfying was it to you after going through your time at Fresno State that the Angels came calling 24 hours early?
Ward: It was great especially seeing the reaction from the Angels draft room. You could see that they really got their guy and me and my family could not be any happier.
Q: You worked out prior to the draft with the Angels, how did that go?
Ward: Yeah, there was a pre-draft workout on June 3 at Angel Stadium. Other top guys were there along with all the decision-makers and they were able to get a good look at me. I had one of my best workouts for them and performed very well.
Q: Describe what it was like to put on that Orem Owlz uniform for the first time before your first professional game?
Ward: I was excited to be there. Suddenly you are getting paid to play baseball. It was great all-around. Something I will definitely remember for the rest of my life.
Q: What was the jump like in competition after getting promoted from Rookie ball Orem to to Single-A Burlington?
Ward: I thought in Orem the pitching was easier than it is in college. Most of the guys there are developing things and for me as a fastball hitter, they are trying to work on things. The pitchers were mainly throwing fastballs and I was able to take advantage of that. Once I got to Burlington though, it was a total 360, and you may only see one fastball to hit. It was good to face that and it is only going to get harder from here.
Q: What is life like for you on a daily basis in the minors?
Ward: It is very similar to what you do in summer ball. Every summer they send you out somewhere and you are playing for two months. You wake up, eat, head to the field, and then do it all over again. It was a pretty easy transition to make. I would say the biggest difference was using the wood bat. I used it constantly throughout the Fresno State season in batting practice, so it was a nice and easy change and helped me.
Q: During your time at Orem, you were selected to the Pioneer-Northwest League All-Star Game, what was that experience like for you?
Ward: That was a really cool experience. That was the first All-Star game that they had for rookie ball short-season. They had a banquet the night before and it was very nicely done. There was a home run derby before the game which was awesome. It was close to a 10,000-seat stadium and every seat was filled which made it an awesome experience.
Q: What was it like to play in front of that many fans?
Ward: As a catcher, you don't even see them because you have your back to them. At Burlington, we played at the Cincinnati Reds Single-A affiliate Dayton and on their wall in left field they have a banner that says 10,000 consecutive games sold out. Every game they have over 12,000 people there and they have a massive scoreboard. It is very close to a professional setting.
Q: Looking back at your time at Fresno State, is there a memory or moment that sticks out to you about your time as a Bulldog?
Ward: I would say during my freshman year hitting a walk-off home run against Nevada would be my most memorable moment. Being that young, and in that situation, it will be something I never forget.
Q: Soon after the draft, you were able to meet Angels manager Mike Scioscia and Angels outfielder Mike Trout down in Tampa, what was that experience like?
Ward: That was right after the draft. I was still numb from the experience and getting to meet Trout, (Angels outfielder) Kole Calhoun and Scioscia, that was amazing. Getting to watch batting practice and see how they conduct themselves, that is something you want to keep in your memory bank for when you are working your way up through the system. You want to be like them and it was great for my family to be there too.
Q: What does the future hold for you down the road?
Ward: I obviously want to continue moving up through the system. I know the Angels system is not that strong at catcher, so I can move fast if I work hard enough. There really is no ceiling. I am excited to get working in the offseason after I take this short break since I have been going since February. I have a plan, which includes doing some yoga, and come next February, I will be ready to go.
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