UCF Baseball Alum Thad Ward Makes MLB Debut with Washington Nationals

WASHINGTON, D.C. – UCF baseball alum Thaddeus Ward made his Major League Baseball debut with the Washington Nationals on Saturday, April 1.

Over four seasons as a Knight, Ward posted a 3.41 ERA in 61 appearances, recording a 9-6 record. In 118.2 innings, he notched 127 strikeouts, giving up 45 earned runs and only 17 extra base hits over 100 hits.
 
Ward was originally selected in Round 5 of the 2018 draft at No. 160 overall by the Boston Red Sox. In 2019 he was named an Red Sox MiLB.com Organization All-Star and earned the Red Sox organization's 2019 Minor League Pitcher of the Year award.
 
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in mid-2021, Ward returned to play in July 2022 with the GCL Red Sox, working his way back to the Red Sox AA Affiliate Portland Sea Dogs in 2022.
 
Picked No. 1 overall in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft by the Nationals, Ward became the organization's No. 13 prospect.
 
Ward was featured on the Nationals' Opening Day roster, announced on March 30, and he made his first appearance in relief on Saturday, April 1 during MLB Opening Weekend, pitching 2.0 innings in relief and struck out two hitters.