A native of Alpharetta, Georgia, Marcus Ward attended Kings Ridge Christian High School. A four-year letterman there, playing football as well as baseball, he was a First All-Region Team honoree this past spring, helping lead the Tigers to a 30-4 record and their second-consecutive Georgia High School Association Final Four.
At the plate, the 6’, 175-pound left-hander stands closed, holding his bat high, wrapping it behind his head almost parallel to the ground. He swings with a slight leg lift, shifting his weight forward with a whippy, long levered, planar swing that he is currently able to level out against pitches upstairs. He sprays the ball around the field with gap power, regularly posting exit velocities in the mid-80s in exhibition games and reaching as high as 99 MPH, but his slim, athletic frame is likely to fill in and add some natural muscle mass and power.
In the outfield, Ward has shown the ability to track balls well and take expeditious routes to them. He has a quick first step and his above-average speed gives him plenty of range. Once put outs are made, he has a strong and accurate arm, with throws from the outfield measured as high as 84 MPH.
An outfielder for the Tigers, Ward was drafted as a left-handed pitcher by the Mets. This may be a clerical error, or they may be interested in trying Ward out on the mound, where his fastball has been clocked as high as 89 MPH, complemented by a mid-70s slider, mid-60s curveball, and low-70s changeup.
Ward has a commitment to Western Carolina University.
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