Nationals Prospect Harry Ford To Play for Great Britain in WBC

Pool Play

Great Britain is in Pool B, alongside the United States, Mexico, Italy, and Brazil. They will play their games at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.

Knockout Rounds

Harry Ford – Top Prospect Profile

For more on Ford, here’s what Aram Leighton wrote about the young catcher on Just Baseball’s latest Top 100 Prospects list:

64. Harry Ford – C

Height/Weight: 5’10″, 200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (12), 2021 (SEA) | ETA: 2026

Ford is very unique. He has come along a good bit defensively, but is still a bit of a tweener offensively. His approach, defense and speed should carry him with the leap behind the dish, taking plenty of pressure off of the bat.

Offense

A physical 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, Ford generates impressive bat speed and a lofty swing geared for lift. Ford scrapped the leg kick in favor of a toe tap in 2024, but still battled the tendency to drift forward prematurely. He found more balance and consistency with his lower half heading into 2025, and the results have been evident, especially with velocity. He also featured quite a lofty path that helped him slug more than his exit velocities would imply, but made it difficult to cover the top of the zone.

The shift against velocity has been dramatic for Ford in 2025 as he is giving himself more time to get the barrel out with an uptick in bat speed. His path is slightly flatter, which has resulted in a higher ground ball rate, though his exit velocities and contact rates have climbed, helping him do more damage on contact, hitter-friendly PCL aside.

Ford’s elite plate discipline helps solidify his offensive floor as he is likely to get on base at a strong clip, even with average contact rates. It’s a unique offensive profile, but even with a 15+ homer outlook, he could provide above-average production.

Defense/Speed

Drafted as a project defensively, Ford has made significant progress as a blocker and receiver, cutting his passed balls from 20 in 2023 to just five in 2024. Ford’s transfer and arm strength have made gains at the upper levels as well, helping him limit the run game at an improved clip. He should be an average defensive catcher.

An easy plus runner, Ford also saw action in left field for the first time in his pro career towards the end of his Double-A season. The Mariners have somewhat put that experiment on ice, as Ford has progressed behind the dish, but it could be worth revisiting if he forces his way to the big leagues. An aggressive base runner, Ford swiped 35 bags on 44 tries in 116 games during the 2024 season, though he has been more hesitant to steal in Triple-A.

Outlook

Ford earns high marks for his makeup and work ethic, and his steady improvements as a catcher only help validate that assertion. Even if the hit and power are average at best, his superb on-base skills and speed should help maximize his offensive value, and the uptick in contact and quality of contact in 2025 with what looks like solidly average defense behind the dish only helps solidify his high probability of landing as a big league regular.