The Boston Red Sox today suffered an 8-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins in Grapefruit League play. The loss dropped them 9-11 this spring. In the top of the second inning, outfielder Braiden Ward was hit by a pitch, and he would then steal second base, which was his 17th stolen base of the spring, breaking the record previously held by Eugenio Velez. Ward, this spring in 16 games, is hitting .419 with a .978 OPS. He has a double, four RBI, ten runs scored, and four walks. He has only been caught stealing once. The Red Sox acquired Ward in the trade that sent Brennan Bernardino to the Colorado Rockies.
Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster
Braiden Ward
The Colorado Rockies drafted Ward in the 16th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He made his debut in their organization in 2021, appearing in 17 games at rookie ball. Ward hit .308 with an .821 OPS. He had three RBI, six runs scored, and three stolen bases. The following season, he appeared in 101 games combined between High-A and Single-A. He hit .272 with a .776 OPS. Ward had 11 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 26 RBI, 76 runs scored, and 57 stolen bases. In 2023, Braiden Ward spent the whole season at High-A, appearing in 80 games. He hit .265 with a .743 OPS. He had ten doubles, two triples, a home run, 16 RBI, 63 runs scored, and 44 stolen bases.
In 2024, he appeared in 119 games between High-A and Double-A. Ward hit .269 with a .783 OPS. He had 15 doubles, eight triples, seven home runs, 36 RBI, 73 runs scored, and 50 stolen bases. Last season, in 97 games between Double-A and Triple-A with Colorado, he hit .290 with a .786 OPS. Ward had 17 doubles, four triples, two home runs, 37 RBI, 74 runs scored, and 57 stolen bases.
