Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

The state of Georgia has produced four first-round catchers in the last seven Drafts -- Max Pentecost, Tyler Stephenson, Anthony Seigler, Joey Bart -- and Ford has better all-around tools than any of them. The track record of high school catchers taken in the first round scares clubs, but Ford has the bat and athleticism to profile well at several other positions as well. One scout likened him to Craig Biggio for his ability to theoretically play catcher, second base or center field. 

Ford features some of the best bat speed in the high school class and has a track record of making loud contact against quality pitching, though he sometimes tries to do too much at the plate. He's also strong and has good leverage in his right-handed swing, so he has all of the ingredients to have average or better power. He's very fast for a catcher, clocking a 6.42-second time in the 60-yard dash at the East Coast Pro showcase. 

There's no doubt that Ford can remain behind the plate, though he still needs to polish up his footwork to get the most out of his solid to plus arm strength. Quick and agile, the Georgia Tech recruit has stood out as a receiver while handling premium stuff on the showcase circuit. Though he doesn't have a lot of experience at other positions, he has the athleticism, quickness and arm to play second base, third base or anywhere in the outfield.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

The Mariners have taken a high school hitter with their first Draft pick three years in a row, a run that started when they took Ford out of the Georgia prep ranks No. 12 overall in 2021. He’s moved up a level every year, from the Arizona Complex League during his summer debut to the Single-A California League in 2022 and then up to the High-A Northwest League last year before making a stop in the Arizona Fall League, all while becoming an international sensation playing for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic and other competition.

The right-handed-hitting backstop will be just 21 for the entirety of the 2024 season and has already shown some serious offensive ability. He has a very advanced approach at the plate, finishing third among all Minor League hitters in 2023 with 103 walks. There’s at least above-average power he’s still learning to tap into, and he can drive the ball to all fields. He’s a plus runner who swiped 47 bags over his first two full seasons of pro ball, and he has 20-20 potential at the highest level.

That athleticism is an asset for Ford behind the dish as well. His plus arm plays well, and he displays the kind of leadership that teams covet from the position, while his agility has helped earn him comparisons to Craig Biggio and Russell Martin. A student of the game, Ford has every chance to be an elite-level catcher in the big leagues who impacts the game on both sides.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

Ford continued a strong line of catchers from Georgia when he became the fifth backstop from the Peach State in eight Drafts to go in the first round when the Mariners took him No. 12 overall in 2021. An alum of the DREAM Series, Ford’s offensive potential and athleticism have been on display since he signed. That was particularly true after he shrugged off a sluggish start in his first full season to post a .942 OPS from June 1 through the end of 2022.

The Mariners are confident that the Ford who performed in the second half of last year is the real deal and has the chance to be an outstanding hitter from the right side of the plate with at least above-average power in the future. He has tremendous raw pop and is just learning to tap into it. He has shown an ability to drive the ball to all fields, exhibiting excellent pitch-recognition traits and very solid barrel rates, especially for his position.

Ford doesn’t just “run well for a catcher;” he has plus speed that allows him to be a basestealing threat. His athleticism is a huge plus on both sides of the ball, earning him comparisons to Hall of Famer Craig Biggio -- Ford would be capable of moving around the diamond like Biggio did -- and All-Star Russell Martin. His strong arm and blocking skills point to a long-term future behind the plate, especially if he can continue to refine his framing skills.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

Ford was the top-ranked high school catcher and second overall backstop behind only eventual No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis in the 2021 Draft class. While the history of high school catchers in the Draft is spotty, Ford’s bat and athleticism attracted the Mariners’ attention. He wowed Seattle officials in a private workout as the Draft approached, cementing him as the No. 12 overall pick, then performed well in a 19-game debut in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League.

During batting practice in front of GM Jerry Dipoto and others, Ford wowed with his ability to drive the ball consistently the other way to right-center field, doing so with a weighted sleeve on his bat and reminding some of Edgar Martinez's approach to hitting. When asked to shed the extra weight and pull the ball, the right-hander showed ridiculous raw power, hitting balls out to his pull side with ease. Sure, it was just a BP session, but it spoke to the confidence Ford has in his approach and feel for hitting, all of which showed up after he signed.

A premium athlete with plenty of strength, Ford has gotten some Craig Biggio comps because of his speed and many evaluators' belief that he could play second base or center field. But the Mariners feel very confident in his ability to stick behind the plate, showing a strong arm and more than enough tools to work with to be a big league starting backstop in the future.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

The state of Georgia has produced four first-round catchers in the last seven Drafts -- Max Pentecost, Tyler Stephenson, Anthony Seigler, Joey Bart -- and Ford has better all-around tools than any of them. The track record of high school catchers taken in the first round scares clubs, but Ford has the bat and athleticism to profile well at several other positions as well. One scout likened him to Craig Biggio for his ability to theoretically play catcher, second base or center field, one reason why the Mariners weren’t afraid to take him No. 12 overall in the 2021 Draft and sign him for a full-slot bonus of $4,366,400.

Ford features some of the best bat speed from his high school class and has a track record of making loud contact against quality pitching, though he sometimes tries to do too much at the plate. He's also strong and has good leverage in his right-handed swing, so he has all of the ingredients to have average or better power. He's very fast for a catcher, clocking a 6.42-second time in the 60-yard dash at the East Coast Pro showcase last summer. 

There's no doubt that Ford can remain behind the plate, though he still needs to polish up his footwork to get the most out of his solid to plus arm strength. Quick and agile, Ford stood out as a receiver while handling premium stuff on the showcase circuit. Though he doesn't have a lot of experience at other positions, he has the athleticism, quickness and arm to play second base, third base or anywhere in the outfield.

Awards

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2024
2023

TEX Player of the Week

Week	Team
05/05/2024

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2023
2022

Baseball America High Class A All-Star

Year	Team
2023

NWL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2023

NWL Player of the Week

Week	Team
08/20/2023
08/06/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/04/2024	Arkansas Travelers activated C Harry Ford from the 7-day injured list.
	07/27/2024	Arkansas Travelers placed C Harry Ford on the 7-day injured list.
	07/15/2024	Arkansas Travelers activated C Harry Ford from the temporarily inactive list.
	07/14/2024	American League Futures activated C Harry Ford.
	07/12/2024	Arkansas Travelers placed C Harry Ford on the temporarily inactive list.
	04/02/2024	C Harry Ford assigned to Arkansas Travelers from Everett AquaSox.
	03/07/2024	Seattle Mariners Prospects activated C Harry Ford.
	02/07/2024	Seattle Mariners invited non-roster C Harry Ford to spring training.
	09/22/2023	Peoria Javelinas activated C Harry Ford.
	07/14/2023	Everett AquaSox activated C Harry Ford from the temporarily inactive list.
	07/07/2023	Everett AquaSox placed C Harry Ford on the temporarily inactive list.
	07/07/2023	American League Futures activated C Harry Ford.
	04/04/2023	C Harry Ford and assigned to Everett AquaSox from Modesto Nuts.
	02/09/2023	Great Britain activated C Harry Ford.
	01/31/2023	Seattle Mariners invited non-roster C Harry Ford to spring training.
	01/31/2023	C Harry Ford roster status changed by Seattle Mariners.
	09/13/2022	C Harry Ford assigned to Great Britain.
	05/13/2022	Modesto Nuts activated C Harry Ford from the 7-day injured list.
	05/13/2022	Modesto Nuts activated C Harry Ford from the 7-day injured list.
	05/02/2022	Modesto Nuts placed C Harry Ford on the 7-day injured list.
	04/07/2022	C Harry Ford and assigned to Modesto Nuts from ACL Mariners.
	03/30/2022	C Harry Ford and assigned to Seattle Mariners.
	08/19/2021	C Harry Ford assigned to ACL Mariners.
	08/17/2021	C Harry Ford assigned to Mariners Organization.
	07/27/2021	Seattle Mariners signed C Harry Ford.
	06/17/2020	C Harry Ford assigned to PG National 7 - Navy.
	06/17/2020	C Harry Ford assigned to PG National 7 - Navy.