Taylor Ward delivered a two-run single in a rare at-bat for the Mariners in Saturday’s win over the Angels.
Ward’s one at-bat off the bench produced a 106.6 mph single. That wouldn’t have seemed especially notable a few months ago, but it was hardest-hit ball for Ward since the Mariners acquired him at the deadline. The last time he topped that was on July 9 for the Orioles. Ward has only 19 balls in play in excess of 105 mph this season. Last year, he did it 49 times. One imagines it all has something to do with a hand injury suffered in April, and if so, he could turn into a bargain in free agency this winter. It sure doesn’t seem like the Mariners will seek to retain him, though.