Dodgers’ longtime prospect Ryan Ward, 28, finally getting first MLB call-up

DENVER –– After seven years of waiting for his shot, Ryan Ward is on the verge of his first big-league opportunity.

The Dodgers are bringing Ward to Denver on Saturday and are expected to officially activate him later in this weekend’s series against the Rockies, sources confirmed, marking what will be a first career call-up to the majors for the 28-year-old outfielder.

While it wasn’t immediately clear what the corresponding roster move will be, the choreographed nature of Ward’s promotion –– he will be on the taxi squad Saturday, a source said –– could suggest a non-injury-related maneuver, such as another player going on the paternity list.

TheAthletic first reported the news of Ward’s call-upFriday.

Ward was originally an eighth-round draft pick in 2019 who has slowly climbed up the Dodgers’ farm system. Last year, he was the Pacific Coast League MVP with Triple-A Oklahoma City, hitting .290 with 36 home runs and 122 RBIs.

This season, he was batting .324 in his first 18 Triple-A games, adding four more home runs and 14 RBIs to a distinguished minor-league resume.

Despite those gaudy numbers, Ward has had to wait –– and wait, and wait –– for a chance at the MLB level.

He was added to the club’s 40-man roster at the end of last season but did not make the big-league team after a poor spring training performance.

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Still, over seven career seasons in the minors, the left-handed hitter has a .266 average, 154 home runs, 139 doubles and 520 RBIs.

The Massachusetts native and Bryant University product has received rave reviews from Dodgers personnel about his growth in recent seasons, specifically with the way he has improved his plate discipline.

Since the start of last year, he has 95 walks against 141 strikeouts.

He is a corner outfielder by trade but can also contribute at first base.

“The thing I like about Ryan is he’s performed,” manager Dave Roberts said this spring. “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.”

Roberts said then he expected Ward to get an opportunity in the majors at some point this year.

“For him to not get a shot [yet], I’m sure he’s frustrated and understandably so,” Roberts said. “But the message for him is to keep putting up numbers and knock the door down and hopefully the opportunity comes for him.”

That’s exactly what Ward has done, ranking seventh in the PCL so far this season in OPS. And now, his long wait is almost up, with a promotion to the majors having finally arrived.

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 18, 2026

Dodgers’ longtime prospect Ryan Ward, 28, finally getting first MLB call-up

DENVER –– After seven years of waiting for his shot, Ryan Ward is on the verge of his first big-league opportunity. The Dodgers a...

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Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan take major step toward repairing friendship after 14-year spat

Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan weren’t just two of the biggest stars in the NBA in the 1990s, they were also teammates on the Dream Team in the 1992 Olympics and close friends who happened to love golf.

But Barkley’s criticism over a decade ago of Jordan’s then-role as owner and head of basketball operations of the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) damaged that relationship.

Now, they appear to have mended fences — and golf will once again be involved.

The problems started in 2012, when Barkley said on ESPN Chicago’s Waddle & Silvy show that “the biggest problem has been I don’t know if [Jordan] has hired enough people around him who he will listen to. One thing about being famous is the people around you, you pay all their bills, so they very rarely disagree with you because they want you to pick up the check… I don’t think Michael has hired enough people around him who will disagree.”

Barkley added at the time: “I love Michael, but he has not done a good job.”

Jordan, not surprisingly, did not appreciate those comments and in 2020, Barkley noted their relationship hadn’t recovered.

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“The guy was like a brother to me for, shoot, 20-something years,” Barkley said six years ago. “And I do… I feel sadness. But to me, he’s still the greatest basketball player ever. I wish him nothing but the best. But there’s nothing I can do about it, brother.”

Until now, apparently.

Speaking on Chris Russo’s Mad Dog Unleashed on SiriusXM on Friday, Barkley said the two have started talking again and will hit the links after the NBA season is over.

“We had a conversation,” Barkley said. “We’re going to get together and play golf as soon as basketball is over.”

As Russo said to Barkley, “Charles, that’s a big story because he was mad at you!”

But Barkley insisted the issues weren’t that deep.

“We’re not like Prince William and Prince Harry,” said Barkley, who is on “Inside the NBA” on ESPN, while Jordan is a minority owner with the Hornets, whose season ended Friday night in a play-in loss to the Orlando Magic. “We always had a lot of love for each other. But we talked, actually, in the last probably 72 hours. We decided to get together and play golf as soon as basketball is over.”

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 18, 2026

Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan take major step toward repairing friendship after 14-year spat

Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan weren’t just two of the biggest stars in the NBA in the 1990s, they were also teammates on the Dream...

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Matt Fitzpatrick builds 3-shot lead at RBC Heritage, but Scottie Scheffler lurks

Another strong finish from England's Matt Fitzpatrick would put him where he wants to be in the RBC Heritage.

Fitzpatrick turned in a strong stretch on the back nine Saturday to shoot a 3-under-par 68 and keep the lead through three rounds at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

"I felt like I was making good enough swings to make a turnaround on the back nine," Fitzpatrick said. "Obviously, some nice momentum with the hole-outs on 14 and 15."

Fitzpatrick moved to 17-under 196 and increased his lead to three shots, but world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler stands as his closest pursuer going into Sunday's final round.

Fitzpatrick's eagle 3 on the 15th at Harbour Town Golf Links capped a four-hole stretch that he played at 4 under. He settled down after three bogeys on the front side.

"It's always satisfying when you can turn it around, particularly if you have not played that well and you are struggling a little bit and not scoring as well as you want," Fitzpatrick said.

Scheffler shot 64 to climb into second. Brian Harman (63) joined Austria's Sepp Straka (67) and South Korea's Si Woo Kim (66) at 13 under.

Fitzpatrick will be aiming for his second victory of the year. He won a month ago at the Valspar Championship, just one week after a runner-up finish at The Players Championship.

Saturday's turnaround was rewarding.

"I was pleased the way I hit the ball off the tee coming in," Fitzpatrick said. "Obviously, then just some good putting on that back nine to take advantage of it."

He rolled in a putt from off the green -- 26 feet away -- the par-3 14th. On the next hole, he chipped from off the green for the eagle on a shot from just inside 30 feet.

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Scheffler sizzled at the start Saturday with birdies on five of the first six holes.

"I was a little bit behind the 8-ball going into today but had a nice round to put myself back in position," Scheffler said. "... As you start kind of getting back into contention, I think that's always fun."

Fitzpatrick said he understands there will be a pro-Scheffler tone in Sunday's galleries.

"We're in America, so I wouldn't expect any different," Fitzpatrick said. "Yeah, they've got to support their guy, and that's totally fine."

Harman became the clubhouse leader before the final groups reached the round's midway mark. Harman began the day in 27th place, but he posted birdies on the final three holes to be the first to finish at 13 under.

"Just tried to keep the pedal down," Harman said. "It's going to take a low number to win. The weather is going to turn a little bit (Sunday), so it was nice to get out there with some good conditions."

Still, Harman said the setup could work to his advantage.

"You really have to think your way around this place," he said. "It's not just a bomb-and-gouge. I'm not a bomber."

The golfers at 12 under are Andrew Novak (65), Gary Woodland (66), Patrick Cantlay (68), Sweden's Ludvig Aberg (68) and South Africa's Aldrich Potgieter (67).

"I think I kind of got to go in with the same kind of attack mentality as today and get it going, go post a number, and see how guys handle the wind late," Novak said.

--Field Level Media

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 18, 2026

Matt Fitzpatrick builds 3-shot lead at RBC Heritage, but Scottie Scheffler lurks

Another strong finish from England's Matt Fitzpatrick would put him where he wants to be in the RBC Heritage. Fitzpatrick tur...

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Stanley Cup playoffs 2026: Brady Tkachuk, Jordan Staal fight 3 seconds into Hurricanes' Game 1 win over Senators

No fighting in the Stanley Cup playoffs? Apparently, no one told the Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk and the Carolina Hurricanes’ Jordan Staal.

As the puck dropped for Game 1 of their first-round NHL playoff matchup, the two team captains dropped their gloves right after the opening faceoff and began tussling three seconds into the contest.

Tkachuk appeared to have the advantage initially, connecting with a couple of right-handed punches. But Staal shook off those blows and countered with an upper cut, then followed with a punch that knocked Tkachuk to the ice. From there, officials stepped in and separated the two captains.

It’s unlikely to be remembered that Tkachuk won the opening faceoff. Especially when his team suffereda 2-0 defeatin the first game of their playoff series.

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After gloves dropped, the playoff game continued

The remainder of the first period was relatively anti-climactic after those opening fisticuffs with the Senators and Hurricanes tied 0-0. But Carolina took a 1-0 lead two minutes into the second period with Logan Stankoven scoring on a wrist shot.

Ottawa appeared to have scored the tying goal early in the third period with Drake Batherson flicking the puck past Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen. The play was ruled a goal on the ice but replay could not conclusively determine that the puck crossed the goal line when Andersen caught it with his glove, so the score was waived off.

Four minutes later, Taylor Hall deflected in a rebound off a long shot by Stankoven to give Carolina a two-goal advantage. That was enough of a lead for Andersen, who stopped all 22 shots he faced from the Senators. On the other side of the ice, Ottawa goalie Linus Ullmark saved 27 of 29 shots.

Carolina takes a 1-0 series lead with Game 2 scheduled for Monday night.

The Hurricanes won the Metropolitan division witha 53-22-7 recordfor 113 points. That matched them with the Senators, who earned the second wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference at 44-27-11 for 99 points. The winner of this series will face either the Pittsburgh Penguins or Philadelphia Flyers in the second round.

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 18, 2026

Stanley Cup playoffs 2026: Brady Tkachuk, Jordan Staal fight 3 seconds into Hurricanes' Game 1 win over Senators

No fighting in the Stanley Cup playoffs? Apparently, no one told the Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk and the Carolina Hurricanes’ Jordan...

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Deion Sanders reels in top QB recruit as Colorado loads up at most important position

Deion Sandershas landed another big fish atColorado. Four-starhigh school quarterback recruit Andre Adamsannounced April 14 he has committed to play for Sanders in 2027, making him the newest quarterback of the future in Boulder.

Adams chose Colorado over Florida State, Virginia Tech, Kentucky and Oregon. The dual-threat quarterback played at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee, where he had 71 passing touchdowns and 35 rushing touchdowns in 33 games. He visited the Boulder campus andmet with Sanders on April 3.

More:Others offered 'crazy' money, but Deion Sanders got his QB anyway. Here's how

More:Deion Sanders’ quietest spring yet at Colorado — and why that might be the point

"For my next three to four years, I will be committed to the University of Colorado," Adams said at a news conference in Tennessee, where he wore a Colorado T-shirt and hat as hestreamed the announcement on social media.

The 6-2 Adams ranks as the No. 15 national quarterback prospect out of high school for 2027, according to 247Sports Composite, behind Baton Rouge high school quarterback recruit Elijah Haven at No. 1.

Sanders appeared to react to the news Tuesday when he posted on social media site X shortly after Adams’ announcement.

“Lawd JESUS!”Sanders wrote.

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How does this fit into Deion Sanders' future plans?

Adams’ commitment to Colorado gives the Buffaloes some options for the future at the most important position on the field, especially considering how so many quarterbacks change schools through the transfer portal. Highly regardedredshirt freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewisis expected to be the starter at Colorado in 2026 but is one of only three quarterbacks on scholarship right now after thedeath of walk-on quarterback Dominiq Ponderon March 1.

Here is a look at who they are and how many years of eligibility they have left as the Buffs try to regroup after a 3-9 season in 2025:

∎ Lewis, 18, has four seasons of eligibility remaining after playing in four games in 2025, including two starts. He also was a four-star recruit out of high school in Georgia and chose Colorado over Southern California.

∎ Utah transfer quarterbackIsaac Wilsonhas three years to play three more seasons. He started seven games for the Utes in 2024 as a freshman.

∎ Freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne has five years to play four seasons. He is a dual-threat high school recruit out of Utah and was theNo. 1 overall pick in his team’s internal spring player draft.

Sanders justconcluded his fourth spring practice seasonin Boulder and is trying to bounce back from a subpar year at the quarterback position after the departure of hisquarterback son Shedeur Sandersto the NFL. The Buffs open the season Sept. 3 at Georgia Tech.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer@Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Deion Sanders reels in another big fish with QB recruit Andre Adams

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 17, 2026

Deion Sanders reels in top QB recruit as Colorado loads up at most important position

Deion Sandershas landed another big fish atColorado. Four-starhigh school quarterback recruit Andre Adamsannounced April 14 he has comm...

Read More