Thad Ward Season 2017

JUNIOR (2018)
22 GP, 5 GS, 5-4, 3.27 ERA, 2 SV, 63.1 IP, 84 K, 46 H, 28 R, 23 ER, 26 BB, .203 BA
• Was drafted in the 5th Round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox with the 160th pick
• Named First Team All-Conference by The American
• Tabbed as the 71st MLB Draft eligible pitcher by D1Baseball.com
• Garnered The American’s Player of the Week honors after relief appearance at Houston (5/5)
• Led the team in strikeouts and finished seventh in the conference
• Ended the year second in the league in hits allowed per nine innings at 6.54
• Was 25th in the country in strikeouts per nine innings at 11.94
• Was the toughest UCF pitcher to hit with a .203 opposing batting average
• Posted a 2.77 ERA and a 3-1 mark over 26 innings during conference play
• Had a 2.88 ERA over a team-high 40 2/3 innings out of the bullpen with 52 strikeouts
• Was 2-2 over five starts with 32 punchouts and a .195 opposing batting average
• Called upon to relieve pitchers in jams, inherited 17 runners, only allowed two to score
• Struck out first seven batters of the game at Stetson (2/20) in three innings of work
• Notched a career-high seven innings against Siena (3/10) and fired 10 strikeouts, a career high
• Tossed a perfect four innings before exiting against Chicago State (3/17)
• Did not allow a run for 11 innings between appearances at Florida State (3/21) and
• Preserved a one-hit shutout with a nine-out save at USF (4/20), including four punchouts
• Tossed four innings of relief with seven strikeouts, one hit and one walk at Houston (5/5)
• Came on for six hitless innings of work against Oklahoma (5/11) to fan eight
• Held a 15-inning shutout streak from April 29 to May 18, a stretch of four appearances

SOPHOMORE (2017)
• Pitched 35 innings in 26 games coming out of the bullpen
• Earned a perfect 4-0 record with 32 strikeouts
• Only allowed an earned run in four out of 26 games
• Threw four strikeouts in 3 innings without giving up a run vs. Memphis (4/29)
• Didn’t allow a homerun the whole season
• Held the opponents without a hit in six games

FRESHMAN (2016)
• Made 12 appearances, including one start

PRIOR TO UCF
• Ranked 349th by the Perfect Game and 49th of the Perfect Game Florida Top 100
• Three-year letterwinner for head coach David Nelson at Bishop Verot Catholic High School
• Named All-American Honorable Mention, FACA All-State First Team, News Press Baseball Player of the Year and All-Area First Team following senior season
• Aided team to a program record fifth-straight state playoff appearance and pitched in the championship game as a senior
• As a junior, selected to All-Area First Team and Preseason Underclass All-American Third Team and appeared on the mound in the state semifinal game
• Earned All-Area Honorable Mention as a sophomore
• Competed on the Vikings' basketball team, earning All-Area First Team as a junior and senior
• Set school record for three-pointers in a single game, second in three-pointers in a season and third for career three pointers
• Participated with SWFL during the summer coached by John Cedarburg
• Helped team to capturing four Perfect Game Tournaments and an invite to the Under Armour All-American Series
• Member of Chess Club, Mission Club, Student Ambassador and Horns & Swords OG (secret society leader, student booster)

PERSONAL
• Born Jan. 16, 1997 in Ft. Myers, Fla.
• Son of Steve and Karen Ward
• Father ran track at LSU
• Brother played Division III baseball and basketball at Averett University
• Sister plays Division II volleyball at Florida Southern
• Major in Pre-Law with minors in Psychology and Leadership