Seattle Mariners 2021 first round pick Harry Ford breaks the mold
2021 – Harry Ford, 12th, C
That brings us to Harry Ford, not to be confused with 79-year-old Harrison Ford. MLB scouting ranked Ford, a catcher, as the #19 overall prospect in the draft class. So he was a small reach in terms of value left on the board. Ford, however, doesn’t project out as a Major League catcher. His speed lends him more towards outfield or maybe in second base. Here is my scouting report after doing some quick research on the kid out of Cobb County, Georgia.
MLB Comparisons
Harold Reynolds, former Mariner 2nd baseman and MLB Network Contributor/Reporter, called him the next Russell Martin with speed, defense, and gap-to-gap power. Dan O’Dowd, former Rangers GM and MLB Network Contributor, said that he could end up being more like Craig Biggio with offensive tools that will require a move to second base or the outfield.
Tools Rating (ratings based on a 20-80 scale)
HIT: 55
During a Perfect Game (PG) All-American baseball event, he hit 7 home runs. His open low backside set-up at the plate reminds me of Hall-of-Famer Jeff Bagwell but in a smaller frame. He also keeps his hands low and has a long stride that allows him to keep the barrel of the bat in action for a longer period of time. His hands are fast to the zone as well. That creates maximum lag with the barrel of the bat through the zone.
SPEED: 65
If this evaluation were based on position, he would easily be the fastest catcher available in the draft. Even without that consideration, he is one of the fastest players taken in the first round. Thinking of fast catchers, the first one that comes to mind is Jason Kendall, who was a three-time All-Star. Kendall had 189 career stolen bases in his 15-year career. Also, Russell Martin, especially early on in his career.
The concern with speed from a catcher is that it’s not something that will last. Most catchers lose their speed as the seasons roll by due to the physical demands of the position unless they move to another position, just like Craig Biggio. After three seasons behind the plate, Biggio moved to second base after the 1991 season.
ARM: 60
As most highly touted catchers would, Ford has a fantastic arm. His arm could be elite, though, especially considering his athleticism. It’s also another reason why his days at catcher might be numbered. His throwing accuracy needs the most improvement if he remains a catcher, but the velocity grades out really high.
FIELD: 50
For catchers, accuracy is at a premium, but range isn’t that big a deal. Should Ford move to the outfield or second base, then his range will play a much larger role in the field. In addition, it’s hard to grade a high school catcher much higher without knowing how he manages the day-to-day operations of a team. Understanding the nuances behind the plate is hard to pick up on in prep and travel leagues. Pitch framing and selection, finding holes in hitters swings using advanced scouting reports, Statcast, sabermetrics, aligning defenses, etc., are things he’ll have to learn.
BASEBALL IQ: 65
Although not a typically scrutinized portion of a scouting report, Ford exhibits a very high IQ and is all-effort all of the time. He’ll grow into his frame, produce more power, and learn the ins and outs of baseball while he grows up in the minor leagues. His awareness is very strong throughout, and he’s demonstrated that while playing at the highest levels he could, all of the time.
Final Notes
Overall, while some will call Ford a reach and definitely an out-of-character pick for Dipoto, the young catcher has so much upside that it’s hard to believe he fell to the Mariners at 12. Seattle is a team that routinely misses with high school talent, but perhaps things will change with Ford.
The other thing to consider is that Dipoto will need to usher in multiple waves of talent as the Mariners get older to remain successful. With a 2024-25 time frame on the young catcher, he’ll arrive just in time for the final controllable years of Jarred Kelenic, Julio Rodriguez, Logan Gilbert, and the other prospects the Mariners intend on bringing up hit the open market.
Joe Swenson