The Seattle Mariners are adding one of their top prospects to the roster as they fight for a postseason berth. Catcher Harry Ford, the team’s No. 4 prospect as ranked by MLB.com, was called up from Triple-A Tacoma and will join the team for Monday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Ford, 22, has had an outstanding minor-league season, batting .283/.408/.460 with 16 home runs, 18 doubles, 74 RBI and 74 walks in 458 plate appearances. He was Seattle’s first-round pick in 2021 (No. 12 overall) out of North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia.
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Calling up Ford might appear to be a curious move given that the Mariners have Cal Raleigh putting up MVP-caliber numbers at catcher this season. He already set the MLB record for home runs by a catcher in a single season, reaching 50 with one month to go on the regular-season schedule.
But having Ford on the roster in September might allow the Mariners to play Raleigh more at designated hitter to save wear on his legs. Another benefit is that carrying a third catcher on the roster gives manager Dan Wilson a backup option when Seattle faces a left-handed starting pitcher.
As the Seattle Times’ Ryan Divish points out, the Mariners would often play Raleigh and backup Mitch Garver in the lineup versus lefties. Raleigh certainly isn’t going to sit, considering the season he’s having. He’s also batting .278 with a 1.037 OPS as a right-handed hitter against left-handers.
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Garver has a .252 average and .772 OPS in such matchups. Ford batted .250/.344/.418 versus lefties in Triple-A. And he’s actually better against right-handers with a .296/.423/.458 slash average, 13 doubles and 12 homers.
Matchups aside, carrying a third catcher allows Seattle to be more versatile with pinch-hitters and pinch-runners. Ford could be a viable running option late in games, with 92 career stolen bases, though he has only seven this season.
If Ford succeeds in his short major-league stint (and possibly into the postseason), that could influence the Mariners’ plans with where to play Raleigh. Could a move to first base be in his future, despite his providing excellent defense behind the plate?
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That is surely something the front office considered before signing the star slugger to a six-year, $105 million extension ahead of this season. Or perhaps Ford could become a valuable trade piece.
The Mariners have a 73-64 record going into Monday’s game and trail the Houston Astros by two games in the AL West. Seattle currently holds the third wild-card playoff spot, with a 2.5-game lead over the Texas Rangers and three games ahead of the Kansas City Royals.
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