“He’s Super Unique” | Seattle Mariners Catcher Harry Ford Is On A Fast Track To Majors

“He’s Super Unique” | Seattle Mariners Catcher Harry Ford Is On A Fast Track To Majors

by | May 30, 2024 | THE THREE SPOT

When the Seattle Mariners drafted catcher Harry Ford with the No.12 pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, they projected him as a cornerstone of their future.

 

Harry Ford Is A Rare Talent

 

But what they didn’t envision was Ford being the club’s future leadoff hitter. Blessed with rare athleticism, elite speed and an advanced approach at the plate not seen by most minor leaguers, Ford’s got it all.

 

The fact that he’s a Black catcher — a position as foreign to MLBbros these days as a fish fry with no tartar sauce — just makes his journey more attractive to baseball historians and fans alike.

 

Currently MLB’s No.28 prospect, Ford has flashed his dynamic skill set at the High-A level last season with the Everett Aquasox Baseball Club. There he batted a respectable .257 with 15 home runs, 67 RBI. He displayed a knack for the extra-base hit racking up 24 doubles. Ford’s play last season led to him being bumped up to the Double-A Arkansas Travelers to begin the 2024 season. The move up the ranks hasn’t slowed Ford’s production one bit, as he still swinging a great bat and flashing his skill behind the dish.

 

“Harry Is A Unique Five-Tool Player Since He Is A Catcher” | Seattle Mariners Hyped About 2021 Top Pick Harry Ford

 

A Black Catcher, and He’s A Leadoff Hitter?

 

Not often are catchers at the top of the order, but not all catchers are Harry Ford. He reminds us of a young Craig Biggio, who was a catcher with rare speed and agility before carving out a Hall of Fame career as a second baseman. The Atlanta native is currently performing at a high level in the leadoff spot for the Travelers.

 

Last week Ford had back-to-back games with a three-run homer where his patience at the plate and ability to spray the baseball to all areas of the field were on full display.

 

 

Ford leading off at the major league level is definitely in play and would be rare. This season alone only six lineups in all of MLB have had a catcher leadoff. That’s out of 1,406 lineups, and all have been by former Milwaukee Brewers All-Star William Contreras.

 

Travelers manager Christian Colon, speaks highly of Ford and believes he’s a throwback. He told reporters this about Ford after his recent big days at the plate.

 

“He’s super unique. For his profile, you gotta go back all the way to the 1930s or something to look at a guy that can do thing like that, his profile, what he does, how athletic he is, how he runs. It’s pretty impressive. We’re just happy he’s in our organization.”

 

Seattle Mariners Top Prospect Harry Ford Has It All | He’s A Tremendous MLBbro Catcher With Elite Leadership Qualities

 

Harry Ford Been On A Tear After Slow Start

 

Ford’s jump to Double-A to begin the season wasn’t easy, as the future Mariners catcher struggled mightily. Ford’s slash line through his first 12 games of .109/.268/.174 was hard to look at. He didn’t even record a hit until his fifth game, but that didn’t deter him at all. Since then, he’s been hot as fish grease at the plate, boasting a slash line of .353/.491/.588.

 

That includes a 12-game hitting streak and eight multi-hit games.

 

With the jump from High-A pitching to Double-A pitching long considered to be the toughest jump, after an expected tough start, Ford seems to be handling it pretty well. One of the more impressive characteristics of Ford’s game is his plate discipline, which is something he struggled with early on in his career. That’s changed and he now has the second-most walks (29) in the Texas League, that’s in addition to just 32 strikeouts.

 

While Ford’s expected to be called up in 2025, if he continues to play at this level that could happen sometime in September of this season.

Seattle Mariners Top Prospect Harry Ford Has It All | He’s A Tremendous MLBbro Catcher With Elite Leadership Qualities

Seattle Mariners Top Prospect Harry Ford Has It All | He’s A Tremendous MLBbro Catcher With Elite Leadership Qualities

by | May 2, 2023 | THE THREE SPOT

Harry Ford Jr. gives great hope to the future and legacy of MLBbro catchers. He’s another in a long line of talented Black prospects that the Seattle Mariners organization has drafted over the years. The Mariners are coming off a 90-72 season which saw them make the playoffs for the first time since 2001. 

It was just their fifth postseason appearance in franchise history (47 seasons), with the bulk of those appearances coming in the mid-to-late 1990s during Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy “Big Unit” Johnson’s tenure. Last season’s ALDS loss wasn’t a total surprise as they did lose to the eventual World Series champion Houston Astros. In the end, it was a feeling these new-look Mariners hope to continue to have come late September and early October during the MLB season.

 

Dusty Baker Can Bring Back Two Things For The Houston Astros This Postseason…A Championship and Respect

 

Harry Ford Joins Julio Rodriguez As Another Future Cornerstone Piece

 

Led by 22-year-old slugger Julio Rodriguez and MLBbro Gold Glove shortstop JP Crawford, the “Emerald City” believes they’re here to stay, and baseball is once again a joy to watch. While Rodriguez signals the right now, first-round pick Harry Ford symbolizes the future. Very soon, their destinies will merge and together they will help lead the franchise. 

Ford, the Mariners’ No.1 ranked prospect is only 20, but the team believes he’ll be ready for a call-up in 2025. That’s pretty amazing considering he’s just two years removed from playing high school games.

 

Ford Has Shined At High-A Everett

 

Ford shined in his minor league season-opener, going 3-5 with three singles and two RBI in a come-from-behind extra innings 4-3 win. Most impressive was Ford’s ability to hit the baseball to all parts of the field. He also threw out a base runner showing his fielding prowess and strong arm.

 

 

Ford’s play caught the attention of Mariners’ director of player development Justin Toole, who told reporters this about the franchise’s top prospect.

“Harry’s athleticism was on full display, and you saw a little bit of everything he can do.”

This season Ford has a current slash line of .265/.446/.475 with three home runs 12 RBI and five stolen bases in 17 games. The No.46 prospect in MLB’s Pipeline hit 11 dingers with 65 RBI and also had thefts last season for Low-A Fresno, routinely flashing his power and elite base stealing prowess.

 

Ford Was Bro Bombing In WBC

 

While Great Britain didn’t make the WBC, it wasn’t for lack of effort by Ford, who bashed three homers and drove in eight runs during the qualifying rounds. His display of power and plate presence threw fear into opposing pitchers from all over the world.

 

 

That and his opening night performance drew more praise from Toole.

“There’s a lot to like about him as a player and a person,” Toole said. “And it was good to see all the work he’s been putting in show up on Opening Night. Really happy for him to get off to that kind of start.”

Ford has continued to play well, and it shouldn’t be long before he’s off to Double-A ball as the team ramps up his preparation to join the Mariners in early 2025, maybe even for Opening Day.