Denzel Ward has a mere uphill walk to check on his new investment.
The Cleveland Browns star cornerback has purchased a minority stake in the Cleveland Guardians, the team announced on Wednesday morning. Ward is the second NFL player with a tie to the greater Cleveland area to purchase a minority stake in the team this year; Kansas City Chiefs tight end and four-time All-Pro Travis Kelce — who grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, which is roughly 20 minutes east of Huntingon Bank Field, home of the Browns — bought a minority stake in the Guardians in May.
Meanwhile, Ward is from Macedonia, Ohio, which is roughly 25 minutes south of Progressive Field, home of the Guardians.
“Cleveland is my hometown. I’m so blessed to be able to show up for this city on the field and now as a part of the Guardians organization,” Ward said in a statement, according to Cleveland.com. “I couldn’t be more grateful to the Dolan family and David Blitzer for the opportunity to continue to pour into this community and give back to the best fans in the world.”
Ward is expected to throw out the first pitch for the Guardians’ Sept. 15 game against the Chicago White Sox.
“Denzel Ward is a hometown hero on the field and off it,” Guardians chairman and CEO Paul Dolan and vice chairman David Blitzer said in a joint statement. “His excellence, character and commitment to this community — including his work with the Make Them Know Your Name Foundation — make him a perfect fit for our organization. We are proud to welcome him as a partner in the Guardians’ future.”
Last NFL season, Ward, a five-time Pro Bowler, totaled one interception, nine passes defended and 39 combined tackles across 15 regular-season games. Cleveland selected Ward, who has spent his entire eight-year NFL career with the Browns (2018-25), with the No. 4 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.
Cleveland signed the 29-year-old Ward to a two-year, $62.2 million extension in July, with the $31.1 million average annual value putting him third among NFL cornerbacks.
As for the team Ward is now a part-owner of, the Guardians (74-72) are in possession of the third American League wild-card seed, one game up on the Toronto Blue Jays for the last AL playoff spot and two games behind the White Sox for first place in the AL Central.
