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Angels’ slumping Taylor Ward gets extra work against live pitching

May 7, 2025

ANAHEIM — Long before any of his Angels teammates hit the field for pregame work on Tuesday, Taylor Ward was out there grinding at-bats against an Angels minor-league pitcher.

Ward has been in a deep slump. He wanted some extra work in game-like conditions, so the Angels brought in one of their low-level minor leaguers to face him.

Manager Ron Washington said Ward saw about 35 to 40 pitches.

“He hit some of them pretty good and some of them he got beat,” Washington said. “That happens, whether you’re swinging good or not. … It was just to get him some extra stuff. Instead of seeing 45 or 50 (mph, from a coach), he saw some 90, 92, 93, 94 with some breaking stuff and some changeups. He didn’t know what was coming. He had to make adjustments. That’s what it’s all about.”

After Ward hit, he had a “skull session, thinking process,” Washington said.

Washington said Ward will go through a similar routine on Wednesday afternoon.

Washington said the Angels did similar workouts with their hitters three times last year, but this was the first time this season.

“If you ask me, we should have had the whole team out here,” Washington said.

Perhaps if this works to get Ward going, more hitters will see the value in the extra work.

The Angels are trying anything with Ward. The left fielder came into this season with a career .758 OPS, which is better than the major league average. He came into Tuesday’s game with a .578 OPS. That included an 0-for-27 slump.

Ward acknowledged last week that he was not seeing the ball well at the plate, which he said was evident from the number of times he was taking called third strikes over the heart of the plate.

Washington has continued hitting him in key spots in the lineup throughout. He started the season in the leadoff spot, and lately he’s been hitting fourth.

“He’s still Taylor Ward,” Washington said. “Even though he’s not doing well, he’s still Taylor Ward. It’s just a matter of Taylor Ward finding it.”

MONCADA RETURNS

The Angels activated third baseman Yoán Moncada, who had been out for more than three weeks because of a sprained right thumb.

Moncada played just two games at Class-A in his rehab assignment, going 0 for 5 with four walks.

Moncada didn’t play much at the end of spring training because of the thumb injury, and then he played just eight major-league games before aggravating it.

Moncada acknowledged through an interpreter that “timing obviously is not going to be there,” when he first returns to action, but he said it would come with reps.

Washington said he believes Moncada can have a positive impact on the lineup by working good at-bats and seeing a lot of pitches.

“I think he will figure out what he has to do in due time,” Washington said. “The only way he can get in trouble is if you go up there chasing. If he doesn’t chase, he’ll take his walks, and the more pitches he sees, the better off he’ll be when it’s time to swing the bat. We know there’s going to be some rough times with him because he hasn’t had any at-bats, but we like to have his presence.”

The Angels optioned first baseman Niko Kavadas to make room for Moncada.

BULLPEN SHUFFLE

The Angels swapped out two relievers for the fourth time in the last two weeks, as they continue to churn through the bottom of the bullpen.

This time they optioned right-hander Michael Darrell-Hicks and designated right-hander Touki Toussaint for assignment. They called up veteran right-handers Hector Neris and Connor Brogdon.

Neris, 35, has pitched parts of 12 seasons in the majors, including a 4.10 ERA in 59⅓ innings last season. He was unsigned until early March, and then he pitched briefly for the Atlanta Braves, who released him. The Angels signed him last month. He pitched four innings at Triple-A, allowing two runs, striking out eight and walking one.

Brogdon, 30, pitched parts of five seasons in the majors. In 2021 and 2022, he had a 3.36 ERA in 101⅔ innings with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Brogdon had a 12.89 ERA in Triple-A this season, but over his last five games he had a 1.42 ERA with 14 strikeouts and two walks in 6⅓ innings.

NOTES

Mike Trout was riding a stationary bike on Tuesday. Trout (left knee bone bruise) said he was hoping to miss the minimum 10 days. “I’m not a medical person,” Washington said. “I certainly hope the optimism Mike has is true.” …

The Angels still don’t have a set day for relief pitcher Ben Joyce (shoulder inflammation) to resume throwing. He’s expected to throw sometime this week. …

Right-hander Sam Bachman (thoracic outlet syndrome) was set to begin a rehab assignment at Class-A Inland Empire on Tuesday, weather permitting. Bachman has not pitched in the majors since July 2023. …

Right-hander Robert Stephenson (rehab from Tommy John surgery) was set to face hitters in live batting practice for the second time on Tuesday. He is set to do it again on Friday.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays (RHP José Berrios, 1-1, 3.98) at Angels (LHP Yusei Kikuchi, 0-4, 4.21), Wednesday, 6:38 p.m., FDSN West, 830 AM

Orange County Register

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Angels’ slumping Taylor Ward gets extra work against live pitching

MONCADA RETURNS

BULLPEN SHUFFLE

NOTES

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