Former Dodgers outfielder heads overseas without getting a real MLB shot
· Yahoo Sports
Ryan Ward waited seven years for his first real taste of the Major Leagues. He finally got it in 2026, only for the Los Angeles Dodgers to send him halfway around the world before he could get comfortable.
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Ward is heading to Japan after the Dodgers sold his contract to the Chunichi Dragons, according to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya. The move comes less than a week after Los Angeles designated him for assignment.
That is a pretty quick way to go from finally making the big leagues to needing a passport.
Ryan Ward barely got a chance with Dodgers
Ward made his MLB debut April 19 after spending seven seasons working through the Dodgers’ minor-league system. For a player who had waited that long, you would think he might get a little time to unpack.
That never really happened.
The 28-year-old appeared in only 20 games for Los Angeles. He hit .218 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 60 plate appearances.
His Triple-A numbers tell a more interesting story. Ward hit .248/.350/.429 with 18 home runs and 82 RBIs in 106 games for Oklahoma City this season.
The Dodgers simply never found enough room for him.
Dodgers’ depth sends Ward to Japan
Jun 10, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Ryan Ward (67) in the batting cage before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Ward entered this season with plenty of evidence that his bat could play. He won the Pacific Coast League MVP award in 2025 after hitting 36 home runs for Oklahoma City.
That kind of power made his path to the majors worth watching. Unfortunately for Ward, the Dodgers had an unusually crowded group of options competing for the same limited opportunities.
Los Angeles eventually designated him for assignment Sept. 16 to make room for pitcher Kris Bubic.
Ward cleared that hurdle and now gets a fresh start with Chunichi.
There is an ironic twist here. Ward spent years trying to reach the Dodgers, finally got there and then discovered that making the roster is one thing while finding regular playing time is something else entirely.
Japan could give him something Los Angeles never really could: a chance to play every day and show what his bat can do over a full season.
The Dodgers may have viewed Ward as expendable because of their depth. The Dragons clearly see something worth taking a chance on.
After seven years of waiting, Ward’s MLB story ended quickly. His baseball career, however, is taking an interesting detour.
And this time, at least, he won’t have to wonder whether there is room for him in the lineup.
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