Salt Lake Bees outfielder Taylor Ward was selected as a Pacific Coast League All-Star, the PCL announced Wednesday.
Ward, 25, is in his second season with Salt Lake and was originally drafted by the Angels in the first round (26th overall) in the 2015 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Fresno State. A former catcher, Ward transitioned to third base last season and has added left field to his repertoire in 2019.
At the plate this season Ward enters Thursday with a .300 batting average and .430 on base percentage and ranks in the top 10 in the PCL in on base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS and walks drawn. Ward has a career-high 16 home runs this season which ranks second on the Bees.
The Indio, California native made his Major League debut on August 14, 2018 with the Angels collecting a pair of hits against the Padres. Ward also launched a walk off home run for the Angels on the final game of the 2018 season to beat Oakland and has appeared in six games for the Angels this season.
Ward becomes the 37th Triple-A All-Star in franchise history and will be joined by Bees pitching coach Pat Rice, who named to the All-Star coaching staff last week. Other notable Salt Lake All-Stars include Jeremy Rhoades (2018), Kaleb Cowart (2016), Kole Calhoun (2012), Mark Trumbo (2010), Howie Kendrick (2006) and Todd Walker (2000).
The 32nd Annual Triple-A All-Star Game will be held at Southwest University Park, home of the El Paso Chihuahuas on July 10.