IP 445
ERA 4.166
WHIP 1.391
BB/9 4.065
SO/9 7.22
  • Full name Zachary McNeil Ward
  • Born 01/14/1984 in Concord, NC
  • Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 250 / Bats: R / Throws: R
  • School Gardner-Webb
  • Drafted in the 3rd round (92nd overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2005 (signed for $420,000).
    View Draft Report
    Ward was unheralded out of high school and began to emerge as a prospect while pitching in American Legion ball the summer after his freshman year in college. Ward first attracted attention for his slider, but he has since earned attention and outs with two potential plus pitches. His fastball reaches the low 90s with good sink, and his breaking ball has morphed from his high school slider to a power curveball. Add in a show-me change, and Ward has a chance to throw three pitches for strikes from a durable, innings-eating body. He was dominant in the Cape Cod League last summer, striking out 57 in 43 innings, yet failed to dominate the Atlantic Sun Conference this spring. Ward was used heavily (five of his 15 starts were complete games) and at times lacked command of his fastball, leading to 49 walks in 109 innings and 19 wild pitches. He has a short-arm delivery reminiscent of the late Darryl Kile, and some scouts think it will lead to an arm injury unless Ward moves to the bullpen, where he could concentrate on his fastball and curve.

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Organization Prospect Rankings

Best Tools List

  • Rated Best Slider in the Cincinnati Reds in 2006

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