Yesterday Great Britain played in their first tune-up game for the World Baseball Classic. That meant we got to see Harry Ford in a Great Britain jersey. Ford, who has British parents, has represented the country for a while and will do so again at the WBC. In the last WBC, Ford rose to the occasion, and he will look to do so again.
If the first exhibition against the Brewers is a sign of things to come, Ford will have a big tournament. He had three hits, including a homer in the game yesterday. While there was no video of the homers, the Nats got some photos of Ford rounding the bases. It was his first homer of the spring.
The Nats acquired Ford in a trade that sent Jose A. Ferrer to the Mariners. Despite being one of the best catching prospects in baseball, Ford was blocked in Seattle due to the presence of Cal Raleigh. That made the Mariners open to trading the 71st ranked prospect for a reliever. Ford has a well rounded offensive profile that is led by his strong plate discipline. His power and contact skills are just average, but his great eye makes him a potentially above average hitter.
While Ford has been a good player in the minors over the years, he seems to rise to a new level when he puts on that Great Britain jersey. The last World Baseball Classic was Ford’s coming out party. Despite just turning 20, Ford was one of Britain’s top players in 2023. His signature moment was a clutch home run against Colombia in pool play. Ford actually hit two homers during pool play.
With another home run yesterday, it really seems like Ford brings the boom when he represents the UK. While Ford was the young kid on the team in 2023, he will be playing a leadership role for Great Britain this time around. He is the co-captain of the team, alongside Yankees star Jazz Chisholm. The fact he is able to play a leadership role at 23 years old is very impressive and speaks to his high character.
It is not like Britain is full of no-name players either. There are several big leaguers or former big leaguers on the roster. Many of those guys are older than Ford, but it was the new Nats catcher who became captain.
An interesting wrinkle in all of this is that Ford is leaving camp in the middle of a positional battle. Ford is battling with Keibert Ruiz and Drew Millas for a spot on the Opening Day roster. Ruiz has actually hit well this spring, though his defense has been shaky. Millas has also been solid, so leaving camp could cost him a job. However, a big WBC could force the Nats into considering him for the starting job.
I hope Ford wins the starting job, and if he does not, I want him to get an opportunity pretty quickly. The Nats need new blood behind the plate, and that is why they traded for Ford in the first place. Keibert Ruiz has had chance after chance, but he has not been able to establish himself as a productive starter. Ford should get that chance sooner rather than later.
Given his performances in a Great Britain jersey, Ford seems poised for a big WBC. Hitting on the biggest stage would put a positive shine on him in this catcher battle. After his big day yesterday, I joked that Ford turns into Buster Posey when he puts that Great Britain jersey on.
The Nats only have a couple representatives at this WBC, and Ford is the most notable one. That means Nats fans’ eyes will be on the young catcher. Harry Ford seems like a young man who rises to the occasion, and he will have the opportunity to show that clutch gene again in the WBC. It would be very cool if he could lead the Brits on a Cinderella run in the WBC.