Those skills included throwing a sinking fastball, curve, change-up and cut fastball, The Tribune wrote.
"I use my own strengths to go after hitters," Ward told The Tribune. "If a young pitcher asked me for advice, I'd tell him to not be afraid of the hitters."
Ward played that year at high-A Dunedin and went 14-6, with a 2.83 ERA. He went on to play in eight professional seasons. His strengths got him to AAA, but didn't get him higher.
Ward's career began in 1988, taken by the Blue Jays in the 10th round of the draft out of Oral Roberts University.
At Oral Roberts, Ward struck out 13 in an April 1988 complete game win against Nebraska.
He started with the Blue Jays that summer at short-season St. Catharines. He went 2-8, with a 4.48 ERA. He also struck out 10 in 6.1 innings of one start.
He moved to single-A Myrtle Beach for 1989 and went 2-5, with a 5.22 mark. He started the year strong with a 0.63 ERA over four starts, but lost May due to an injured elbow.
Then came Ward's season at Dunedin. He picked up his 11th victory in a June game, going six innings and striking out seven.
He made AA Knoxville in 1991, then AAA Syracuse in 1992. That May, Ward was set to face the Blue Jays as starter in a Syracuse-Toronto exhibition game. He picked up a relief win in a June game, going two hitless frames.
Ward returned to Syracuse, and saw Knoxville, in 1993. In 46 relief appearances, Ward went 2-3, with a 3.03 ERA. He played 1994 again at Syracuse, where he got into 64 game, but posted a 5.53 ERA.
Ward's final pro season came in 1995 at independent Thunder Bay. He went 3-5 over 10 starts, with a 5.92 ERA to end his career.
- Tampa Tribune, June 9, 1990: Ward fearless when it comes to pitching
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,882
Made the Majors:1,074-37.3%
Never Made Majors:1,808-62.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 444
10+ Seasons in the Minors:268
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