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Harry Ford Launches Home Run in Season Debut
Washington Nationals catcher Harry Ford had a memorable 2026 season debut in his team's 23-4 win over the Athletics on Friday night. The 23-year-old batted sixth and went two-for-five with a home run, a walk, three RBI, and three runs scored. A former top prospect in the Seattle Mariners system, Ford made his MLB debut with Seattle in 2025 but logged just eight plate appearances. He's struggled a bit this season with Triple-A Rochester, hitting .223/.370/.335 with four home runs, 22 RBI, and 35 runs scored across 257 plate appearances. Still, he was promoted by Washington for the second half of the season and could be in line to steal playing time from Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz. Ford's ability to get on base at a high rate may be what keeps his bat in the Washington lineup regularly, as he logged a 16.2% walk rate at Triple-A in 2025 and a 17.5% walk rate in the minors this season before being called up. Fantasy managers in need of catching help should consider targeting Ford on the waiver wire.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Nationals to Promote Catching Prospect Harry Ford, a Must-Add in All Leagues?
The Washington Nationals are recalling top catching prospect Harry Ford to the majors after this week's All-Star break, a source told Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. The 23-year-old backstop has a .705 OPS at Triple-A Rochester this year, but he's posted a .9111 OPS since June 1. Ford is ranked fifth in Keith Law's preseason top-20 Nationals prospects and was the headliner in the offseason trade that sent closer Jose A. Ferrer to the Seattle Mariners. The former 12th overall pick by the M's in 2021 will take the place of catcher Drew Millas, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a left index finger fracture. In 58 games (257 plate appearances) at Rochester this year, Ford has hit .223/.370/.335 with a .705 OPS, four home runs, 22 RBI, and 34 runs scored. However, a shoulder injury that he has played through has hampered his production, and he has taken a step forward offensively in recent weeks, leading to his second-half promotion. For now, Ford figures to serve as Keibert Ruiz's backup, so he probably won't have much fantasy appeal in redraft leagues for the time being.
Source: The Athletic - Spencer Nusbaum
Source: The Athletic - Spencer Nusbaum
Harry Ford Turning the Corner at Triple-A, Is he the Top Catching Prospect to Stash?
Washington Nationals catching prospect Harry Ford has turned the corner over the last month of action at Triple-A and has put himself firmly on the stash radar. Over his last 18 games at Triple-A Rochester, the former 12th overall selection has posted a sharp .291/.474/.545 line with a stellar 1.019 OPS, five doubles, three home runs, and a 16:17 K:BB. This surge is worth emphasizing, as Ford carried a much lower .203/.332/.268 line with a 49:28 K:BB over his first 41 Triple-A regular-season contests. The 23-year-old received a brief taste of the majors last season in Seattle but posted a low .417 OPS over just eight PAs. Even though Keibert Ruiz has held his own at the MLB level, Ford has been making a strong push for a promotion and could earn the call to D.C shortly after the All-Star break. His current trajectory makes him a worthy stash in deeper two-catcher leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Harry Ford Entering Stash Territory Amid Triple-A Improvements?
Washington Nationals top catching prospect Harry Ford is entering stash territory amid solid performances at the Triple-A level. Ford joined the Nationals in a trade in the offseason (from the Seattle Mariners), but has spent the entire first half in the minor leagues. Over his first 30 games of the Rochester campaign, Ford held a .191/.318/.255 line with four doubles, one home run, and a 36:19 K:BB. However, over his last 22 contests, the young backstop has begun to make significant strides. During this noted stretch, the No. 7-ranked prospect in the system has held a .263/.417/.421 line with a .838 OPS. Even though the team's current No. 1 backstop, Keibert Ruiz, has held a .285 AVG with a .791 OPS, Ford's progress could push him back to the major leagues in the coming weeks. For now, managers in deeper two-catcher leagues should continue to closely monitor Ford's progression at Triple-A.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Harry Ford Emerging as Deep-League Stash Target at Catcher Position
Washington Nationals catching prospect Harry Ford has begun to snap out of his cold streak at Triple-A and is emerging as a deep-league stash target. Over his last nine contests at Rochester, the young catcher has posted 256/.356/.359 line with a .715 OPS. During this stretch, Ford has hit four doubles while holding a 9:6 K:BB. Prior to this recent improvement at the dish, the 23-year-old backstop carried a much lower .186/.317/.245 line through his first 28 games of the MiLB season. Ford made his MLB debut during the second half of the 2025 season with the Seattle Mariners but appeared in only eight games while serving in a bench role. If Ford can maintain this pace, the Nationals could look to give their No. 5-ranked prospect his first extended look at MLB pitching before the All-Star break. Managers in deeper two-catcher leagues should continue to monitor his development at Triple-A.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Keibert Ruiz Seeing the Ball Well in May, Drives in Five on Saturday
Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz had yet another strong performance at the plate in May in the team's 13-3 blowout win over the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night in D.C. Ruiz finished the game 3-for-5 with a career-high five RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base to continue his hot-hitting ways since the calendar flipped from April to May. The 27-year-old Venezuelan backstop continued to disappoint offensively in April, going 8-for-45 (.178) with no home runs, four doubles, six RBI, two runs scored, one walk, and seven strikeouts in 17 games across 47 plate appearances. But so far in eight games in May, he's been a different hitter, batting .323 with three home runs, five doubles, and 11 RBI in his last 31 at-bats to boost his season average to .230 and his OPS to .715. Ruiz's three-hit showing on Saturday was his second of the month already. Something appears to be clicking for the switch-hitter, but fantasy managers have every right to be skeptical that it will last. He's still rostered in only 1% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
