OPENING DAY AGE: 47
SIGNED THROUGH: 2013
FORMER POSITION: Outfielder
BORN: April 11, 1965 - Orlando, Florida
RESIDENCE: Saraland, Ala.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Ward is in his first season as D-backs Assistant Hitting Coach and sixth season in the organization...managed 2011-12 at Double-A Mobile, where he was 2011 Southern League Manager of the Year and won back-to-back Southern League titles...in 2011, the Bay Bears were Baseball America's 2011 Minor League Team of the Year...spent parts of 12 seasons in the Majors from 1990-2001...two time World Series Champion with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 & 1993...played for D-backs in 1999 and 2000...played collegiately at University of South Alabama in Mobile,where he was a teammate of Luis Gonzalez. Spent the previous five season with Double-A Mobile as Manager in 2011-12 and hitting coach from 2008-10. In 2 seasons managing Mobile, was 2011 Southern League Manager of the Year and posted a 153-125 record (.550)while winning back-to-back Southern League titles(2011-12). In 2012, was a coach for the World Team at the 2012 All-Star Futures Game at Kauffman Stadium...also managed the South Division in Southern League All-Star Game. In 2011, guided the Bay Bears to a league-best 84-54 record as the club was recognized as Baseball America's 2011 Minor League Team of the Year. Spent 12 seasons in the Majors from 1990-2001 with the Indians (1990-91), Blue Jays (1991-93), Brewers (1994-96), Pirates (1997-99), D-backs (1999-2000) and Phillies (2001)...in 626 games, hit .251 with 73 doubles, 11 triples, 39 homers and 219 RBI.In 25 games for the D-backs in 1999-2000, hit .227 with 5 doubles, 2 homers and 11 RBI...in 1999 NLDS in Game 3 vs. Mets, hit a 2-run, pinch-hit home run. Made a highlight-reel catch with the Pirates on May 3,1998 at Three Rivers Stadium with a leaping catch of the Dodgers' Mike Piazza's fly ball to right field as his momentum carried him through the wall. Selected by the Yankees in the 18th round of June 1986 free agent draft out of University of South Alabama.
PERSONAL Turner Max Ward. He and his wife,Donna, have two sons, Tucker and Olin, and a daughter, Kendall. His oldest son, Tucker, is a sophomore and plays baseball at Louisiana Tech University. Played collegiately at Faulkner State Junior College then the University of South Alabama, where he was a teammate of D-backs legend and Special Advisor to the President, Luis Gonzalez. Inducted into the Mobile (Ala.) Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Alabama Junior College Hall of Fame in 1996.
