Harry Ford Showing Strong Eye Through First Taste Of Triple-A
Seattle Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford had a productive evening at the plate on Wednesday as he went 1-for-2 with two walks. He tallied an RBI single in the second frame, crossed home plate three times, and even swiped a bag. Throughout his first three contests at the top level of the minor leagues, the 22-year-old backstop has held a .333/.538/.333 line. He has tallied at least one hit in each contest and has held a strong 4:1 BB:K. Last season, Ford had some growing pains at Double-A as he posted a modest .249/.377/.367 slash line across 116 contests. He tallied 26 doubles, seven long balls, and swiped 35 bags. This was a sharp decline from the .257/.410/.430 line he held during the 2023 season at High-A. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Ford's progression as he could be in the mix for a second-half MLB debut if he continues to produce with the Tacoma Rainiers.
According to Adam Jude of the Seattle Times, the Tampa Bay Rays have expressed interest in trading for top catching prospect Harry Ford of the Seattle Mariners. While it is unclear how interested the Rays were in acquiring him, it is worth noting that they are looking to further bolster their pipeline. If the Rays fall out of the playoff picture, they could be interested in resuming conversations, especially if Brandon Lowe or Yandy Diaz are involved in the deal. Last season, Harry Ford spent the entire 2024 campaign at the Double-A level. The 21-year-old posted a .249/.377/.367 line with 26 doubles, seven home runs, and 35 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should monitor Ford's production during spring training as he could push to open the 2025 season at Triple-A, which could open the door for a late-season major league debut.
Through June and July, Seattle Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford struggled immensely, posting a .619 OPS in 156 plate appearances. Since the start of August, Ford has played much better. Through 13 games, he's slashing .260/.393/.440 with three doubles, two home runs, six RBI, six stolen bases, and 8:19 BB/SO. Overall, Ford is slashing .249/.376/.380 this season. Seattle's No. 4 prospect (per MLB.com), he's expected to make his MLB debut in 2025.
Seattle Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford went 1-for-2 with a home run and two walks. The young backstop has struggled through August, carrying a .188/.333/.281 line, but hopefully, Wednesday's long ball helps him get back on track. Since July 1, the former first-round pick has carried a disappointing .191 AVG but held a solid .254 AVG through the majority of the first half. Overall, Ford has performed well through his first extended look at Double-A pitching and is a name to keep a close eye on going forward. MLB.com ranks the North Cobb HS product as the fourth-best prospect in a deep Seattle system and the 53rd-best in the entire sport.
Seattle Mariners catcher prospect Harry Ford (concussion) returned to action on Sunday for Double-A Arkansas after missing the previous 10 games with a concussion. Ford batted leadoff in the game and went 1-for-4 with a run and a single. The No. 23 prospect per MLB Pipeline has been enjoying a nice season for Arkansas, hitting .247 with five homers, 31 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 83 games. The 12th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft offers plenty of athleticism and an advanced approach at the plate, but he still breaking into his power. If Ford can tap some more into his power, he can be a true asset behind the plate with the potential to have 20 homers and 20 stolen bases behind the dish. For now, he is an upside add in dynasty leagues.
Seattle Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford (concussion) was feeling "100 percent" on Friday evening, according to MLB.com. On July 21, Ford took a foul ball off his mask and was diagnosed with a concussion. He then hit the 7-day IL on July 28. While he was initially expected to miss a longer period of time, the budding star has progressed quite well and could return to minor-league action much sooner than anticipated. Prior to the injury, the former 12th-overall selection in the 2021 MLB Draft held a solid .247/.373/.370 line with five home runs and 22 stole bases. If Ford continues to progress at Double-A during the back half of the season he should have a strong opportunity to spend most of next summer at Triple-A and potentially the major leagues.
Seattle Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford, who was ranked as Keith Law's No. 61 prospect before the season, made his first career starts in left field on Friday and Saturday with Double-A Arkansas over the weekend. However, general manager Justin Hollander said that Ford requested to play in the field on days he was not catching, expressing that he was bored as a designated hitter. Ford catches around 60% of the time and believed he would be more valuable to his team if he could play a position rather than simply hit. He's not being showcased for a trade or being prepped for a promotion as an outfielder. It's a development to watch for the 21-year-old backstop, though, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as Seattle's No. 2 prospect. Ford is projected to reach the big leagues in 2025 and is currently hitting .253/.376/.381 with five homers, 30 RBI, 21 steals and 37 runs scored in 76 games for Arkansas this year.
Seattle Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford has continued to perform well at Double-A Arkansas. Ford struggled in the first month of the season with a .218 AVG but has put those results behind him as he has posted a .287 AVG ever since. In his past seven games, the former 12th overall pick has held a stellar .409/.517/.409 slash line with three stolen bases and a 5:6 BB:K ratio. Overall, in his first look at Double-A ball, the number 27 overall prospect on MLB.com has stolen 18 bases, hit five home runs, and posted a .263/.388/.399 slash line. Ford spent the entirety of last summer with High-A and held a .257/.410/.430 line with 15 long balls and 24 stolen bases. While his power has yet to show at Double-A, his elite speed has. Ford is considered one of the best catching prospects in all of baseball and should make his major league debut next season.
Harry Ford Continues Outstanding May With A Four-Hit Game
Seattle Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford went 4-for-4 with a triple and a stolen base against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Sunday night. After a decent April, wherein he slashed .218/.371/.410 with six doubles and three home runs in 97 plate appearances, the 21-year-old catcher has been outstanding in May. Through 67 plate appearances this month, he's hitting .340/.478/.528 with three doubles, two triples, and one homer. Overall, Ford has displayed excellent power and advanced plate discipline for a player his age. Through 35 games, he only has three more strikeouts (32) than walks (29). Ford is ranked #28 on MLB's top-100 prospects list and is expected to make his MLB debut sometime next year.
Seattle Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford extended his hitting streak to 11 games in Friday's doubleheader. In the first game, Ford knocked a double, and in the second game, he tallied his fourth round-tripper of the season and laced another double, his eighth of the season. After tallying just one hit in his first five games at Double-A this season, Ford has posted a strong .256/.413/.488 slash line with four swiped bags and 22 total hits in 23 games. The 21-year-old has fully adjusted to Double-A pitching and could be up with Triple-A Tacoma by the end of the summer. The second overall prospect in the Seattle system and 35th overall prospect should be rostered in all dynasty leagues but will not be relevant in redraft until next season.
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