Mariners prospect Harry Ford leading the charge for Great Britain in the WBC
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By Corey Brock
2h ago
A year ago, Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford struck up a conversation with Triple-A hitting coach Brad Marcelino at the club’s spring training complex.
Little did Ford — the top prospect in the Mariners’ system — know it would lead to the opportunity of a lifetime.
“Brad and I were talking one day during spring training, and it came up that I was British,” Ford said. “Brad said, ‘We have to get you on the team.'”
Marcelino had already agreed to be the director of hitting and the bench coach for Great Britain ahead of last September’s World Baseball Classic qualifier. He jumped at the chance to help Ford, 19, get on the roster.
“It was pretty serendipitous,” Marcelino said. “I was just getting to know him. He was asking me about my background and I told him I was born in Great Britain. From there, we continued to have a conversation. He was pumped up about the opportunity.”
Ford, whose parents were both born in Great Britain, made an immediate splash in September’s WBC qualifier, hitting .455 with three home runs, eight RBIs and three walks in three victories. That clinched a spot in the WBC this spring — a first for Great Britain since the event began in 2006.
“It was different for sure, and I don’t think I realized how different it was going to be,” Ford said. “It so different than the regular season because you had to win every game. It was fun. It was intense.”
Ford didn’t truly realize the magnitude of clinching a spot in the WBC until after that third game when he saw how it impacted his teammates — many of whom had been trying for years to make this happen. One was pitcher Daniel Cooper, who is 17 years older than Ford.
“We must have had the team in tears. It meant the world to them, it meant everything,” Ford said. “Some of the guys had been playing in tournaments and qualifiers like that for 12 years.
“We had some dads on the team. We had a few guys who came out of retirement. It was beautiful.”
Marcelino began playing for Great Britain in 1999 when he was just 17. Those early years were pretty rough in terms of being competitive. But the game has continued to grow and winning that qualifier in September affirmed just how far the nation has come in baseball.
“There were so many struggles and challenges that we had from 1999 to 2020,” Marcelino said. “So I can’t tell you how many guys I got messages from (after the qualifier) who were asking who this Harry Ford kid was.
“It was a surreal and emotional moment.”
Ford, who turns 20 in February, will take a break from spring training to compete for Great Britain when the WBC begins in Phoenix with a game against the United States on March 11 at Chase Field.
“It’s going to be a fun one,” said Ford.
Ford’s performance in the qualifier was essentially an extension of how well he had been playing with Low-A Modesto from June on. He hit .277 in June, .338 in July, .274 in August and .333 in September. For the season, Ford hit .254 with 11 home runs, 65 RBIs and 23 steals. He also had an 18-percent walk rate.
A sprained ankle limited him to 12 games in May. But for the season, Ford still posted a 132 wRC+ for Modesto. Not bad work for a 19-year-old.
“Like all players, Harry had to get comfortable to realize he belonged,” said Austin Knight, who was Ford’s manager last season. “He bought into the importance of breathing and getting rid of distractions. Once he connected the dots, his ability was able to come out.”
Ford, who is likely heading to High-A Everett this season, said his early struggles with Modesto last season helped him in the long run.
“I think I just started focusing more on the game, and what was going on with me,” Ford said. “I had a great support system with my coaches, too. But I think I needed some time to fail and figure out what I was doing wrong to know what I needed to do right.”
Ford’s offensive gains in 2022 are hard to miss, but his development as a catcher really opened eyes in the organization, Knight said.
“I think (catching coordinator Zac Livingston) would agree … the pure athleticism that he displayed being behind the plate catching was off the charts,” Knight said. “He didn’t overthink, he just played the game. He blocked stuff you’re not supposed to block. He has a cannon (for an arm).
“He was just really free back there. He was really good.”
The Mariners saw a lot of this promise — and certainly Ford’s upside — when they chose him with the 12th-overall pick in the 2021 draft out of North Cobb High School in Georgia.
“(Scouts) kept coming back and said this guy is explosive, it’s different and it’s a toolshed of athleticism,” said Mariners director of amateur scouting Scott Hunter after selecting Ford.
When Marcelino first laid eyes on Ford in person during the qualifier, he saw what all the fuss was about.
“The first time seeing him live, doing what he was doing … the way he was performing at that age, it was pretty surreal to see how advanced he was,” Marcelino said. “How he was locked in and how much pride he took in what he was doing. It was pretty impressive.”
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