Ward, who will be 26 in January, was the Red Sox's minor league pitcher of the year after a dominant season at both Class A levels, then missed most of the next two years, first because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and then because of Tommy John surgery in 2021. Ward came back to make 13 starts in 2022, posting a 2.28 ERA with 66 strikeouts and 19 walks in 51⅓ innings. Ward then pitched 12⅔ innings in the Arizona Fall League, allowing four runs.
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"We kind of blended the upside of the pitcher with the certainty of making it easier to carry the player throughout the season," Rizzo said of the Nationals' strategy with the first pick. "We like this player. We think he's got more left in the tank. He's a year farther removed from Tommy John surgery, he's got a four-pitch mix, he's around the plate, he's got some pitchability and some stuff, and we think there's a little more left in the tank."
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35206132/phillies-take-noah-song-rule-5-draft-thad-ward-goes-no-1Sounds like a conservative pick. Pitchers are easier to stash for a year than a position player who ends up not being able to hit. Certainly more upside in Noda if he can hit in the majors, but more of a bust potential with the Ks.
