Taylor Ward

Ward offered some rare stability amidst another dud of a season from the Angels. The 31-year-old showed no ill effects from a scary incident which ended his 2023 campaign when a hit by pitch in the face resulted in multiple fractures, setting career highs in home runs, RBI and games played. Ward's 13 percent barrel rate and 90.9 mph average exit velocity also represented full-season highs. If anything, Ward underperformed relative to his batted ball data, as his .351 xwOBA was 26 points higher than his actual .325 wOBA. Ward appears likely to be held back by his supporting cast again in 2025, although a healthy season out of Mike Trout would certainly help. While he doesn't offer standout production in any area, Ward was a top-40 outfielder in 2024 and it's reasonable to think he could finish in that range again. Read Past Outlooks