Dodgers call up slugger Ryan Ward, last year’s Pacific Coast League MVP, put Freddie Freeman on paternity list

Apr 19, 2026

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up outfielder/first baseman Ryan Ward from Triple-A Oklahoma City. The team officially announced the move on Sunday. He will take the roster spot of Freddie Freeman, who was placed on the paternity list.

Ward, 28, earned Pacific Coast League MVP honors last season and had a slash line of .290/.380/.557 with 36 home runs, 31 doubles, 122 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 652 plate appearances.

The Dodgers’ 2019 eighth-round draft pick came into this year ranked as the team’s No. 19 prospect by MLB.com and just outside the organization’s top 20 minor-leaguers by The Athletic. This season, he’s batting .324/.432/.588 with 4 homers, 6 doubles, 14 RBI and 3 steals in 18 games.

While Ward’s production warrants a call-up to the majors, it’s unclear as to where he’ll play in the Dodgers’ lineup. Shohei Ohtani is entrenched as the designated hitter and Freddie Freeman mans first base. Teoscar Hernández doesn’t need a left-handed bat to platoon with him (he’s batting .313/. 306/.604 versus right-handed pitching this season), and Kyle Tucker bats left-handed in right field.

As a team, the Dodgers lead MLB with a .289 average and .864 OPS against right-handers, powered by the likes of Ohtani, Freeman, Tucker (who’s off to a slow start) and Max Muncy.

Dodgers reportedly calling up slugger Ryan Ward, last year's Pacific Coast League MVP, from Triple-A - Yahoo Sports

However, Ward would provide a left-handed power bat off the bench for a Dodgers roster that only has Dalton Rushing to bat from that side of the plate. Last season, Ward batted .319/.402/.636 in 463 PAs against right-handed pitching.

“The thing I like about Ryan is he’s performed,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the California Post during spring training. “We’ve asked him to do certain things, whether it’s positional versatility or cutting back on the strikeouts, hit for a little more power. He’s done all that.”

Before going on the paternity list, Freeman batted 2-for-4 in the Dodgers’ 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. This season, he has a slash average of .296/.360/.519 with three home runs, seven doubles and 14 RBI in 89 plate appearances.

Freeman and his wife are expecting a baby girl, who will be the couple’s fourth child. Going on MLB’s paternity list allows him to miss one to three games.