Getting To Know Braiden Ward
February 01, 2018 | Baseball
With the 2018 baseball season rapidly approaching it is time to take a look at and meet some of the new faces that will be on the Washington Baseball roster. Over the next several weeks GoHuskies.com will introduce the 14 newest Huskies. Featured today is outfielder Braiden Ward.
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GoHuskies.com: Talk about what stood out in the recruiting process and what ultimately led you to decide to become a husky.
Braiden Ward: I was playing for Club All-Star and we were part of a college showcase and UW happened to be one of them so we had our typical college night where you do a little bit of a combine and then you go out and play some games. JK (Jason Kelly) was there and he saw me. I guess he liked me, made me an offer after a couple of months. Then it was between them and Berkeley, and I choose Washington. That was in October of my junior year.
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GH.com: Speed is such a big part of your game, at what point in your life did you realize that you had elite speed and the fact that when you get on base you are going to take second then you are going to take third?
BW: Growing up, everybody can steal, everybody is fast. Eventually you get to eighth grade and you are still stealing and it seems normal. You get to high school and you still steal, it's normal. But then when I went to all of these combines I saw that no one else was running as fast as me. I was in So-Cal at a combine and I ran the fastest 60, I ran it one time and everyone was blown away at my speed and it just clicked, like maybe I am above average.
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GH.com: Is that when you realized that maybe you could do this for a living or maybe get into college?
BW: I used to joke that I would just be a pinch runner in the pros. Just steal bases.
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GH.com: Who do you like to model your game after?
BW: I like Trea Turner. He is aggressive on the base paths. It seems like he steals more.
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GH.com: Do you ever feel like you get underestimated or underappreciated because they think you are just a fast guy with nothing more?
BW: Well I'm small, so people just shun me away but then the speed usually brings me back in the light.
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GH.com: What is your approach when you are at the plate?
BW: I am usually at lead off or high in the order, so I wait for my pitch and make the pitcher work. Ultimately until two strikes, I just try to put the ball in play. If I fly out, speed doesn't help me, but when I have a grounder I have a chance of beating it out.
Β
GH.com: You were mostly a shortstop growing up, talk about how the switch to centerfield has been for you.
BW: Well, as a shortstop you are supposed to be able to play anywhere, you are the most athletic guy on the field. So converting to center really wasn't that difficult. Outfield is not an easy thing but you just have to learn the reads and just catch the ball. I think I am doing well. I think that my speed is helping me stay in pace with my teammates.
Β
GH.com: What is the toughest part so far?
BW: Reads, because you see a ball you think is in a gap in front of you so you run in and then you realize that it is actually off the wall. It's horrible. When you run in and have to run back then end up missing the ball, you really just feel terrible.
Β
GH.com: What are your expectations for this year, what are some of your goals for this season?
BW: I am going to try to be one of the best centerfielders in the Pac-12. I am going to try to use my speed to my advantage and hopefully be one of the best defensive players and then steal a lot of bags.
Β
GH.com: What are you interested in doing for a living after baseball?
BW: I want to be a sports physician. When you find something and you love it, you never work a day in your life. I always thought that even if I wasn't in the pros, I could be a doctor for the Giants or the Mariners, that would be fun.
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GH.com: Are you into pro sports at all?
BW: Yes I love the Diamondbacks and the Cowboys. I grew up liking snakes and it just stuck! As for the Cowboys, my parents and my grandpa root for them. It's in the family.
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GH.com: Did you play other sports besides baseball growing up?
BW: I ran track, I played basketball my freshman year, and played water polo throughout high school. I was a goalie, I knew angles and I could react fast so that was good.
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GH.com: What do you like to do when you are not playing baseball?
BW: I like fishing, I am a big hunter. I was duck hunting up here around Seattle just by myself, I just went out and had some fun. I got a couple mallards up in Marysville.
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GH.com: What kind of fish do you like to catch?
BW: Usually trout and bass. Bass is my favorite. Salmon are up here, I didn't get lucky with salmon this year, but maybe next year.
Β
GH.com: So what has your time up here been like for you?
BW: Well people said it was going to rain a lot more and I haven't really seen it that much.
Β
Β
GoHuskies.com: Talk about what stood out in the recruiting process and what ultimately led you to decide to become a husky.
Braiden Ward: I was playing for Club All-Star and we were part of a college showcase and UW happened to be one of them so we had our typical college night where you do a little bit of a combine and then you go out and play some games. JK (Jason Kelly) was there and he saw me. I guess he liked me, made me an offer after a couple of months. Then it was between them and Berkeley, and I choose Washington. That was in October of my junior year.
Β
GH.com: Speed is such a big part of your game, at what point in your life did you realize that you had elite speed and the fact that when you get on base you are going to take second then you are going to take third?
BW: Growing up, everybody can steal, everybody is fast. Eventually you get to eighth grade and you are still stealing and it seems normal. You get to high school and you still steal, it's normal. But then when I went to all of these combines I saw that no one else was running as fast as me. I was in So-Cal at a combine and I ran the fastest 60, I ran it one time and everyone was blown away at my speed and it just clicked, like maybe I am above average.
Β
GH.com: Is that when you realized that maybe you could do this for a living or maybe get into college?
BW: I used to joke that I would just be a pinch runner in the pros. Just steal bases.
Β
GH.com: Who do you like to model your game after?
BW: I like Trea Turner. He is aggressive on the base paths. It seems like he steals more.
Β
GH.com: Do you ever feel like you get underestimated or underappreciated because they think you are just a fast guy with nothing more?
BW: Well I'm small, so people just shun me away but then the speed usually brings me back in the light.
Β
GH.com: What is your approach when you are at the plate?
BW: I am usually at lead off or high in the order, so I wait for my pitch and make the pitcher work. Ultimately until two strikes, I just try to put the ball in play. If I fly out, speed doesn't help me, but when I have a grounder I have a chance of beating it out.
Β
GH.com: You were mostly a shortstop growing up, talk about how the switch to centerfield has been for you.
BW: Well, as a shortstop you are supposed to be able to play anywhere, you are the most athletic guy on the field. So converting to center really wasn't that difficult. Outfield is not an easy thing but you just have to learn the reads and just catch the ball. I think I am doing well. I think that my speed is helping me stay in pace with my teammates.
Β
GH.com: What is the toughest part so far?
BW: Reads, because you see a ball you think is in a gap in front of you so you run in and then you realize that it is actually off the wall. It's horrible. When you run in and have to run back then end up missing the ball, you really just feel terrible.
Β
GH.com: What are your expectations for this year, what are some of your goals for this season?
BW: I am going to try to be one of the best centerfielders in the Pac-12. I am going to try to use my speed to my advantage and hopefully be one of the best defensive players and then steal a lot of bags.
Β
GH.com: What are you interested in doing for a living after baseball?
BW: I want to be a sports physician. When you find something and you love it, you never work a day in your life. I always thought that even if I wasn't in the pros, I could be a doctor for the Giants or the Mariners, that would be fun.
Β
GH.com: Are you into pro sports at all?
BW: Yes I love the Diamondbacks and the Cowboys. I grew up liking snakes and it just stuck! As for the Cowboys, my parents and my grandpa root for them. It's in the family.
Β
GH.com: Did you play other sports besides baseball growing up?
BW: I ran track, I played basketball my freshman year, and played water polo throughout high school. I was a goalie, I knew angles and I could react fast so that was good.
Β
GH.com: What do you like to do when you are not playing baseball?
BW: I like fishing, I am a big hunter. I was duck hunting up here around Seattle just by myself, I just went out and had some fun. I got a couple mallards up in Marysville.
Β
GH.com: What kind of fish do you like to catch?
BW: Usually trout and bass. Bass is my favorite. Salmon are up here, I didn't get lucky with salmon this year, but maybe next year.
Β
GH.com: So what has your time up here been like for you?
BW: Well people said it was going to rain a lot more and I haven't really seen it that much.
Β
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