Je'Von Ward
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Position:
CF
Level:
Minor League Spring Training
Affiliate:
Brewers A-
League:
Minor League Spring Training
Born:
10/25/1999 (Age: 24)
Height:
6'5"
Weight:
190
B/T:
Left / Right
Acquired:
12th Rd. 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft (MIL)
Prospect Spotlight
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Milwaukee’s 12th round pick from a SoCal high school in 2017, Ward was extremely young for his class and didn’t turn 18 until after the draft. Entering his third year of pro ball, he’s still only 19-years-old and heading to the full-season level for the first time.
Ward’s extra-athletic 6-foot-5 frame immediately jumps out. He’s built like a wide receiver, and there’s a ton of projection left in his long, twitchy levers. Despite slashing .307/.391/.403 last summer in the Pioneer League, Ward is fairly raw at the plate and still needs significant reps against pro pitching. There’s a ton of intriguing natural leverage and looseness in his swing—potentially allowing power down the road as he gets stronger—but he has trouble keeping his long limbs compact to the ball and often swings through off-speed stuff. He’s more of a speed and contact player right now despite his size, putting most balls on the ground and showing plus wheels up the line. That athleticism translates to the outfield grass, where Ward has the chance to stay in CF even as he fills out. His long strides are assets defensively and help him cover lots of ground underway.
Ward is more lottery ticket than surefire prospect at this point, a projectable frame with promising raw tools that haven’t fully come together yet. How much he’s able to add polish in the coming years will dictate whether he winds up a big league contributor or simply a tooled-up organizational player.
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