Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
FOLLOWING THE DREAM
International baseball experience sparks career resurgence for Unionville’s Ward
>> For Nick Ward, life as a professional baseball player has been like a roller coaster: quite a ride, with a lot of ups and downs.
The former Unionville High School and West Chester University star is on a steady climb right now, and it all started in the summer of 2021 when, on a whim, he sent an email to the British Baseball Federation. Unbeknown to Ward, age 27, it set into motion a series steps that have revived his baseball career.
And through it all, the ultimate goal is still alive: to play for the Philadelphia Phillies.
“It’s been a pretty crazy two years, to say the least,” he said.
“Everybody’s story is a bit different. It doesn’t feel like a second act because I never really stopped playing. I think I had to go through, and endure, all that I went through in order to be where I am now.”
Now a starting infielder for the Jersey Shore Blue Claws, Ward is the first to acknowledge that he would not be playing for the Phillies’ high-A affiliate if not for his whirlwind international baseball experiences over the past year.
Ward was a key figure of the 2017 WCU baseball squad that won the program’s second NCAA Division II National Championship. In ’18 he was picked in the 34th round of the Major League Amateur Draft, and spent time at various Oakland Athletics’ minor league franchises like the Beloit (Wis.) Snappers (A), Vermont Lake Monsters (A), the Nashville Sounds (AAA) and the Las Vegas Aviators (AAA).
But by 2021, Ward had been cut by the A’s and eventually found his way to the Washington (Pa.)
Wild Things in the independent Frontier League. Quite a step down from Nashville and Vegas.
“I think if I ever got sick of playing baseball, it would be time to hang it up,” Ward said. “But I love the game. When you are playing independent ball, you’re not making much money and you are on a bus for nine hours at a time, you truly find out how much you want to play baseball.”
At a sort of crossroads two years ago, Ward learned that because his mom, Clare -- and her parents -- were born in England, he could qualify to play for Team Great Britain in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
“I knew that I qualified to play for the team, but I didn’t know if there were spots available,” he recalled. “So I just kind of took a shot.”
Manager Drew Spencer called him back the day after receiving Ward’s email. Following several conversations, he was invited to play in the World Baseball Qualifier tournament last September in Regensburg, Germany. Only 20 teams earn a berth into the international tournament, and with Ward’s help, England nabbed a spot for the first time in history.
“Great Britain isn’t known for its baseball, so we’re also trying to grow the game,” he explained. “That’s what the World Baseball Classic is all about.
“But when we qualified, there were some raw emotions from a lot of people.”
Normally a second baseman, Ward became a valuable, and versatile, infielder for the team. And once Team Great Britain began tournament play in March, he was the team’s starting first baseman.
“I was a shortstop in the qualifying tournament and exhibitions, and I bounced around to second and third base leading up to the tournament,” he recalled. “But my coaches decided I could help more at first base, so we could get some of the other guys into the game.”
Things started off in a big way on March 11 against Team USA at Chase Field in Phoenix in front of a sellout crowd. England dropped that game 6-2 and then fell the next day, 18-8, to Canada. But on the 13th, England notched its first-ever WBC victory, 7-5 over Columbia, before a 2-1 loss to Mexico. Despite going a respectable 1-3, the team did not advance to the quarterfinals.
“Our manager kept telling us that even if we lose every single game, we’ve already won,” Ward said. “Because millions of people in the UK and around the world are watching us.
“I had never played international baseball before, so it was kind of eye opening. We won a national championship at West Chester, and you are playing for something bigger than yourself. Here, you are representing an entire country, so there is a lot more on the line and it means more to a lot of people.”
Ironically, Ward represented a country he has only visited once in his lifetime, and it happened on a family trip more than a decade ago. In four WBC games, he scored four runs, had three hits, and drove in a run.
“The experience was just absolutely unbelievable,” Ward said. “Getting to play against Team USA, and all of the guys you dream of being teammates with, it was like a Big League experience for four days.
“And you never know who is watching. I played hard and gave it my best, and that can open doors.”
In the months leading up to the World Baseball Classic, Ward used his newfound international baseball connections to secure a spot on the roster for the Adelaide Giants of the Australian Baseball League. And by the time the three month season concluded last January, the Giants had won the ABL title for the first time in 43 years.
“It was my first winter ball experience -- and it was 11,000 miles from home,” Ward pointed out. “It was eye opening and different, but it was quite incredible. I’ve already signed to play for Adelaide next winter.
“Plus, winning makes everything a little better. That was pretty special to say the least.”
As a starting second baseman down under, Ward batted .344 and belted 11 homers. And soon thereafter, he learned there was a connection between Team Great Britain and the Philadelphia Phillies: England’s Manager Drew Spencer is a minor league coach with the organization.
In mid-December Spencer contacted Ward’s agent, and a couple days later, the Phillies purchased his contract from the Washington Wild Things. He reported to the Blue Claws at the conclusion of the WBC.
“Growing up a die-hard Phillies fan, I thought it would be an incredible opportunity to potentially play for my home town team,” Ward said. “And even if that didn’t work out, it was a better opportunity to be signed by an affiliated franchise rather than an independent team.”
Through 68 games, Ward is now playing mostly at third base, is batting .260 with six homers, 34 runs batted in and 19 steals.
“I started well and then I had a rough month,” he said. “I am now starting to trend in the right direction.”
Even though he is in the midst of his sixth year in the minor leagues, Ward is now with the franchise he loves, and his dream of someday playing at Citizens Bank Park is closer to becoming reality.
“Any opportunity in this game is earned.” Ward said. “I am still trying to get as far as I can go, but I am also trying to enjoy it a little more.”