British-Canadian All-Conference NCAA D1 Catcher, Utility, Contact Hitter & Team Captain available Post-Graduation 2024
Name: Matthew Ward
Height: 182cm
Weight: 90kg
DOB: June 22, 2001
Date Available: June 7, 2024
Will Pay FlightBats: R
Throws: R
Positions: C
Positions (alt): 1B, 2B, 3B
College: Niagara University
Personal
Catcher Pop Time: Average 1.90-2.00 seconds in-game. Contact Hitter. 7.1 60 yard. Top exit velo 105mph.
Played summer collegiate ball at my secondary positions and consistently took/taking reps at practice and pregame, although primarily a catcher at school.
Enjoy sharing knowledge and talking about the game. Enjoy helping others, and leading by example. Selective vocal leader.
Career highlightsÂ
2024 Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Watch List, Selected as 2023 Pre-Season All-Conference (MAAC) Catcher, Selected to 2022 All-MAAC Tournament Team. Record-Breaking Season with Niagara University Baseball 2024, Chosen as one of Niagara University’s Baseball Team Captains, MAAC All-Academic Team 2021-2024
Coaching
No coaching experience, but have a high-level capability of coaching as a catcher helping out pitchers and other hitters.
Overseas Goals
Still have a competitive drive and want to continue to compete playing the game I love.
Articles/Recognitions
Playing Experience
Stats
College/Amateur Batting
| Years | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Niagara University | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .125 | .300 | .125 |
| 2021 | Cortland Crush | 31 | 82 | 15 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 7 | 26 | 1 | 0 | .256 | .337 | .427 |
| 2022 | Niagara University | 50 | 180 | 26 | 52 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 25 | 21 | 37 | 2 | 1 | .289 | .372 | .411 |
| 2022 | Swift Current 57's | 44 | 152 | 25 | 46 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 34 | 25 | 30 | 3 | 0 | .303 | .400 | .520 |
| 2023 | Niagara University | 47 | 170 | 37 | 46 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 31 | 27 | 45 | 1 | 2 | .271 | .379 | .388 |
| 2023 | Nanaimo NightOwls | 12 | 29 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | .172 | .273 | .207 |
| 2023 | Kamloops NorthPaws | 17 | 53 | 8 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | .226 | .344 | .396 |
| 2024 | Niagara University | 35 | 98 | 19 | 23 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 0 | 0 | .235 | .364 | .337 |
Video Highlights
Testimonials
These Testimonials Have Been Verified
I have known Matt for the last 6 years and coached him for the last 5. Of the hundreds of players I have worked with over the years, Matt is easily in the 98th percentile in terms of quality, character, work ethic, and knowledge of the game. He is a leader and captain on our team. He embodies our team core values of excellence, accountability, grit, love, energy, and selflessness. He's a foxhole guy. He can always be counted on to do the right things, be in the right spots, and know the situations throughout the games. On top of all the intangibles, he's a very good ball player. He blocks and receives well behind the plate. He's an incredibly accurate thrower with a strong arm, and he almost always has competitive at-bats at the plate. I could not recommend him more highly!
Matt is a true leader and a student of the game. Has all the necessary tools to handle a pitching staff and has shown the ability to control the running game. Matt has displayed excellent bat to ball skills over his collegiate career with gap power. He is excellent with RISP. Matt has a very high motor and love for the game.
I was Matt's coach from the time he was about 9 until he was 17 and I can tell you that he is a very fine young man who comes from a very good family who have helped nurture the qualities of hard work, humility, strength of character and being a good teammate into his makeup.
As a ballplayer, he has elevated his game and shown that he is capable of playing multiple positions as catching was not his first position but one that he knew he could become a player at a D1 University, where he has been added to the Buster Posey Award watch list. His dedication to practice, learning, being coachable and his execution of the skill sets needed to get better have gotten him to where he is now at Niagara U. He is relentless in his pursuit of trying to get a little bit better everyday in all facets of the game which is a coach's dream player. Adding to this would be the fact that he is a great teammate who is not afraid to cheer on his guys and is not shy to hand out compliments or a pat on the back.
As a person, he has always been a pleasant and driven young man and one that people want to include in their circle of friends. He is a good communicator and sure about himself and would easily fit in outside of his comfort zone. Being a Canadian, he is accustomed to different people, cultures and languages and would have no trouble adapting to wherever he finds himself overseas.
Additional Info
Playing preferences: Europe Pro (Italy, The Netherlands), Europe Semi-Pro (France, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland, etc.) Australia Pro (Australian Baseball League), Asia Pro (Japan, Korea, Taiwan), Latin America pro (Guatemala, Colombia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, DR, etc)
Living preferences: Private living arrangement (apartment to self), Shared living arrangement, own bedroom, Give me a floor, pillow and a mat to sleep on, Host Family
Return home: August 31st (but could change, waiting to see if selected to the U23 Great Britain Baseball team for the U23 WBSC)
Prior engagements: No
Recent injuries/illnesses: N/A
Traveling with a companion: No
Educational background: Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Masters Degree in Finance