D-1 Grad Ward Bolsters Royals Catching Depth
GUELPH - The Guelph Royals Baseball Club is excited to announce today the signing of catcher Matthew Ward.
Ward, 23, joins the Royals after spending the spring at the Quebec Capitales training camp.
Prior to beginning his professional career in Quebec, the Mississauga native enjoyed a successful career at Niagara College.
At Niagara, Ward, who can also play first base and second base, hit a lifetime .276 with 11 home runs.
The right-handed bat also succeeded in the WCBL, highlighted by his 2022 summer when he recorded an OPS of .920 with six home runs for Swift Current.
Royals assistant general manager Ryan Eakin said Ward rounds out the Royals lineup quite well.
"I know our lack of catching depth was a big ordeal among the talking heads in this league, but we believe it is our biggest strength. We have Franklin Torres and another catcher coming in July, and now we have a D1 grad in Ward who can more than hold the fort down until then.
"Between Torres, the other catcher coming in July, Ward, and a soon-to-be-announced junior catcher who we are excited about, we love what we have at the catching position.
"We love that Ward can play other positions too, that way we can find a way to keep his bat in the lineup once we add help in July."
We are also excited to announce the re-signing of Jeff MacLeod.
MacLeod, 43, is the league's most experienced IBL'er, having won a championship with the Brantford Red Sox in 2007.
Jeff will once again serve an important leadership role for the Royals.