"He learned that from Albert Pujols, Mike Trout" - Angels insider lays out Taylor Ward's upside for Orioles

Baseball America's Los Angeles Angels beat writer believes that Taylor Ward will be a great addition for the Baltimore Orioles. The insider claims that Ward can be a veteran voice in the young Orioles clubhouse.

Ward, the 26th pick in the 2015 MLB draft, debuted for the Angels in 2018. On Nov. 18, 2025, the Angels traded him to the Orioles, receiving pitcher Grayson Rodriguez in return.

Incidentally, Baseball America's Angels beat writer shares the same name as Taylor Ward. The insider appeared on Monday's episode of "MASN All Access Podcast: Orioles," answering several queries about his namesake outfieder, one being what he will bring to the Orioles clubhouse.

"I think he's a quiet leader," the insider Ward wrote (From timestamp 3:50). "You know, Taylor is, is pretty subdued by, by just his nature. But one of the things that comes up with that also is this is a guy that just won the Baseball Writer Association Good Guy Award last season."

The insider also added that the Angels players respected Ward, who helped his teammates with advice.

"I think, he learned that from, his time growing up, with, you know, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout among other people," he added. "So I think he's kind of carried the torch of learning from others to where he can now teach others as well."

Mike Trout has been playing for the Angels since 2011, and as such has been teammates with Ward since his MLB debut in 2018. Meanwhile, Pujols played for the Angels from 2012 to midway through 2021.

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Angels Insider provides reason for Taylor Ward's surprising growth

In the same conversation on "MASN All Access Podcast: Orioles," the Angels insider pointed out that 2023 would've been Taylor Ward's best season had he not been injured by Alek Manoah's fastball, resulting in facial reconstruction surgery.

2023 was the only time in the last four seasons that Ward didn't play at least 100 games. The insider is confident that Ward would've earned an All-Star selection if not for the injury.

The insider also shared how Ward exceeded expectations after being originally drafted as a defense-first catcher.

"He went to a personal friend," the insider said (Timestamp 6:40). "It was a friend of Brett Phillips. It was a friend of his that was a, a hitting coach in, I want to say, North Texas, somewhere out that way. And, they got working together and he said, 'I want to swing a baseball bat like Justin Turner.'"

The insider pointed out that Ward's current swing is similar to Turner's. He also noted that since 2021, Ward has become a top-30 outfielder due to the adjustment he made.