Good article on Zach Ward

Zach Ward Off To Hot Start In Reds` Organization
By GWUSports.com Staff

DAYTON, Ohio – Despite being left off the roster for the upcoming Midwest League All-Star Game, Dayton Dragons’ hurler and Gardner-Webb product Zach Ward is as hot as any pitcher in the league heading into the break.

Ward, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound righthander, was rated the Cincinnati Reds’ No. 10 prospect heading into the 2006 season – his first as a pro – and has lived up to the preseason billing. The Kannapolis, N.C., native won again on Sunday night with 7.0 innings pitched, 11 ground balls, seven strikeouts and just one run allowed to push his record to an unblemished 6-0 for the Class A Dragons.

Ward was the Reds’ third-round selection in last June’s draft (90th overall pick).

Through 11 starts (13 total appearances), Ward is a dominant 6-0 with a 2.98 ERA, just one home run allowed and 66 strikeouts in 71.2 innings of work. His opponents are batting a frigid .196 against him this season, with an average of 11 ground ball outs per start leading the Reds’ minor league system. Ward’s WHIP ratio (walks-plus-hits, divided by innings pitched) of 0.98 ranks among the Midwest League leaders, as does his opponent batting average.

Since struggling with his command in April, Ward has been as dominant as any pitcher in the Reds’ farm system. In his work since May 1, 2006 (50.2 innings pitched), Ward has a 2.48 ERA with 55 strikeouts, just 11 walks and 31 hits allowed. He has rolled 71 ground ball outs during that stretch, an amazing average of 12.6 per nine innings pitched. His WHIP ratio is an eye-popping 0.82 since May 1.

Baseball America included Ward for consideration on its popular minor league Prospect Hot List on June 12.

Dayton (35-35) has now won six straight after Ward’s Sunday dominance.

During his career at Gardner-Webb, Ward finished as the Diamond ‘Dogs’ career and single-season leader in strikeouts, and won 17 decisions in three seasons. He was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America selection for GWU in 2003, and earned first-team All-Atlantic Sun Conference honors on the mound as a sophomore in 2004.

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