Ex-Merced baseball star sets stolen base record. What’s the future look like?
Former El Capitan High baseball star Braiden Ward had a record-setting spring training for the Boston Red Sox.
The 27-year-old outfielder set a record for stolen bases during a single spring training, stealing 19 bases to surpass the previous record of 16.
Ward, who was born in Turlock, set the record with his 17th stolen base in Boston’s Grapefruit League game against the Minnesota Twins last Thursday.
Ward celebrated the record by pulling off the base and lifting it up, like Rickey Henderson did when he set the major league all-time stolen base record in 1991.
“I wasn’t going to do that in general but they were all egging me on, egging me on,” Ward told masslive.com reporter Christopher Smith. “How often do you get to do something like that? It’s for the boys, you know what I mean? It was something for us and for us to celebrate a little bit during spring training. Spring training’s supposed to be fun and laidback.”
Ward batted .378 with a .509 on-base percentage in 45 at-bats for Boston during the spring training season, which ended Tuesday. The Red Sox finished 13-16.
MLB call-up could happen this season
While Ward impressed during the Grapefuit League season, it probably wasn’t enough to make the major-league squad for the start of the 2026 season. Instead, he will likely start the season with the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, according to reports.
A call-up to the big leagues may be in Ward’s future, though.
He plays all three outfield positions and Boston Manager Alex Cora has praised Ward’s speed and ability to run the bases, according to reports coming out of spring training.
That kind of versatility could prove key for the Red Sox, who are looking to return to the postseason after losing in the Wild Card round last season.
Ward was a first-team All-Central California Conference selection after hitting .476 with 29 stolen bases his senior year at El Capitan High in Merced.
He played at the University of Washington, where in four seasons he finished third all time in stolen bases.
Ward was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 16th round with the 470th pick in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the first player from El Capitan High to be drafted by an MLB team since the school opened in 2013.
The Red Sox picked up Ward in a trade for relief pitcher Brennan Bernardino in November.
The Boston Red Sox open the regular season on the road against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.
The Worcester Red Sox open the season on Friday at home against Syracuse.
This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 1:55 PM with the headline "Ex-Merced baseball star sets stolen base record. What’s the future look like?."
