The move takes the 27-year-old hurler off of the club’s 40-man roster. Ward had been claimed off of waivers from the Nationals in early November after posting a 5.64 ERA and 1.73 WHIP over 119 2/3 innings at Triple-A Rochester during the 2024 season. He’ll continue to serve as additional rotation depth for the O’s.

A former Boston Red Sox prospect, Ward was a Rule 5 pick in 2022 and has posted a 6.37 ERA in 26 MLB appearances as a reliever. He spent all of 2024 with Triple-A Rochester and had a 5.64 ERA in 28 appearances.

It looks like the Nationals want Ward to get stretched out as a starter in the minors this season. The team optioned him to Triple-A Rochester after he pitched on Monday. Washington used the 27-year-old in relief last season and appeared in 26 games where struggled with a 6.37 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 30/28 K/BB ratio.

The Rule 5 pick from the Boston Red Sox had made 22 appearances for the Nationals, while posting a 7.12 ERA before going on the IL in early July. Ward looked good in his last rehab outing and has now pitched exactly five innings in his last two outings and is built up to 79 pitches. All 22 of his appearances with Washington this season have come as a reliever, but it appears as though the team is looking to use him as a starter once he returns from the 15-day injured list. Joe La Sorsa was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.