Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward has purchased a minority stake in the Cleveland Guardians, the Major League Baseball team announced Wednesday. Ward, a native of Macedonia, Ohio, is the second NFL player with a connection to the Cleveland area to acquire a stake in the Guardians this year, following Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Ward expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to invest in his hometown team. "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. He added that he is "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."
Guardians chairman and CEO Paul Dolan and vice chairman David Blitzer welcomed Ward as a partner. "Denzel Ward is a hometown hero on the field and off it," they stated jointly. "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."
Ward is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Guardians' game against the Chicago White Sox on September 15.
A five-time Pro Bowler, Ward has spent his entire eight-year NFL career with the Browns since being drafted fourth overall in 2018. He signed a two-year contract extension with the Browns in July, with an average annual value of $31.1 million. In the most recent NFL season, Ward recorded one interception, nine passes defended, and 39 combined tackles in 15 regular-season games.
The Guardians are currently in contention for an American League playoff spot, holding a one-game lead for the third AL wild-card seed and trailing the White Sox by two games in the AL Central standings.