Speaker 1: An exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talker.
Speaker 2: It's the Dodgers and Angels getting set for first pitch
Speaker 2: in Tempe, Arizona, and we're joined right now by a
Speaker 2: man in his first major league or second major league
Speaker 2: camp with the Dodgers. Had an incredible season at Triple A,
Speaker 2: won the PCL Player of the Year, and that's Ryan Ward.
Speaker 2: Did I get all that right, Ryan Ward? Uh?
Speaker 1: Yeah, pretty close? Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, excited for it.
Speaker 2: What's it like this camp for you after having the
Speaker 2: season that you did and being put on the forty
Speaker 2: man roster and now certainly on everybody's radar.
Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, I'm just coming in and continuing to
Speaker 1: do what I do, get better at little things, work
Speaker 1: hard every day and then and try to take full
Speaker 1: advantage of the opportunities and have fun with it.
Speaker 2: In this area of the Dodger Clubhouse in spring training,
Speaker 2: a little bit different real estate than what you're used to.
Speaker 2: What's it like having two catchers as your lockermates, Stalton
Speaker 2: Rushing and Will Smith.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I know, I got both of them around me,
Speaker 1: so I try to take up his little space as
Speaker 1: I can. You know, they both got a ton of
Speaker 1: gear over here and all that catcher stuff, So try
Speaker 1: to try to just come in when when there's an
Speaker 1: opening and take up a little space. But it's awesome.
Speaker 1: I mean, having a good relationship with a lot of
Speaker 1: these guys and building more as we keep going is
Speaker 1: important to me and and just trying.
Speaker 2: To build on that. What's it like for you being
Speaker 2: at Triple A last year, having the season that you
Speaker 2: had last year and the Dodgers recognizing it.
Speaker 1: Yeah, no, it's cool. You know, I'm really proud of
Speaker 1: of the year I was able to put together. And
Speaker 1: it's honestly it's because of them, the staff here, the
Speaker 1: developmental strength, everybody, you know, putting putting the plans in
Speaker 1: front of me and helping me get to the spot
Speaker 1: that I got to. So, like I said, just kind
Speaker 1: of continuing to build on that and make and grow
Speaker 1: as a player and keep going.
Speaker 2: What was the biggest leap you took last year? What
Speaker 2: was it that made Ryan Ward the PCL Player of
Speaker 2: the Year.
Speaker 1: You know, I think it was a lot of approach
Speaker 1: based stuff. I used to be kind of a free
Speaker 1: swinger and really trying to hone in on on certain
Speaker 1: pitches and certain spots as I was going at back
Speaker 1: to a bat, pitcher to pitcher and ended up putting
Speaker 1: myself into better counts chase less and ended up getting
Speaker 1: into more hitter counts where it just put me in
Speaker 1: a better spot to do some damage.
Speaker 2: How did you recognize that, did you go to the
Speaker 2: video more or what was the balance that you you
Speaker 2: changed to be a more discipline hitter.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I used to kind of go in
Speaker 1: the box. I always made the joke when when I
Speaker 1: get in the batter's box, I'm called a hitter, not
Speaker 1: a walker. So like I would go up there and
Speaker 1: just swing it, swing it everything, and you know, just
Speaker 1: just trying to hone in on one one area, Like
Speaker 1: I'm going to dominate this area if you if you
Speaker 1: throw sam looking in that day, if you throw three
Speaker 1: heaters away, like okay, like I gotta tip my cap.
Speaker 1: But like when you if you come in here, I'm
Speaker 1: gonna I'm gonna do some damage on it because that's
Speaker 1: the one spot I'm hunting for. So staying committed to
Speaker 1: that was was something that was very helpful for me
Speaker 1: and led to the year I had.
Speaker 2: Ryan Ward is our guest in front of first pitch
Speaker 2: between the Dodgers and Angels starting the Cactus League schedule. Ryan,
Speaker 2: hitting is so hard these days. I've heard Freddy Freeman
Speaker 2: talk about what it was like when he broke in
Speaker 2: to hit compared to what you guys are facing these days.
Speaker 2: So does it come down to with how nasty guys
Speaker 2: are to really key in on your zone?
Speaker 1: Yeah? Absolutely, you know, and I think that that was
Speaker 1: a huge jump for me last year. I mean because
Speaker 1: like you said, everything pictures are getting better and better.
Speaker 1: Stuff's getting better and better, so so really going up
Speaker 1: with a plan and trying to dominate your plan. The
Speaker 1: big thing for me last year was was get out
Speaker 1: the way that I want to get out. I'm not
Speaker 1: gonna get out on the pictures terms, and with the
Speaker 1: better stuff and better stuff that's coming, you really got
Speaker 1: to stay committed to that. You know, if I'm gonna
Speaker 1: get out, I wanted to be on my terms. I
Speaker 1: don't want you to be the one who gets me out.
Speaker 2: Do you feel like this spring you have more confidence
Speaker 2: about yourself and not trying to prove every single swing
Speaker 2: that you belong.
Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, I'm gonna I mean, I'm not gonna
Speaker 1: take it easy. I'm gonna get my a swings off.
Speaker 1: But yeah, I think that this year coming in is
Speaker 1: all more comfortable. Like I said, I have relationships with
Speaker 1: a lot of the guys now over the past couple
Speaker 1: of years, been able to get to know them and
Speaker 1: them get to know me, and just put you in
Speaker 1: a lot more comfortable spot. Starting to know all the
Speaker 1: staff around. Everyone knows who I am, so it's really cool.
Speaker 2: That's great, Ryan, thanks a lot for the time. Congratulations
Speaker 2: on putting in the work and reaping the benefits of that,
Speaker 2: and we look forward to seeing you at Dodger Stadium
Speaker 2: this year.
Speaker 1: Thank you. I'm excited for it too,