You might have overlooked it amid all the excitement surrounding the Mariners’ 2025 season, but one of Seattle’s most highly regarded prospects finally reached the majors. Top star, who was the organization’s top prospect in 2023, logged just eight plate appearances and caught 14 innings this year. It was the very definition of a brief cameo in the big leagues, but he still managed to leave an impression.
Looking ahead raises an important question: Where does he fit into Seattle’s long-term plans? Cal Raleigh is under team control through 2031, and after the season he just delivered, it would take something extraordinary to remove him from his starting catcher role. In addition, new data tied to the incoming Automated Ball Strike System suggests that if Ford wants to remain in Seattle, he may need to transition to a different position.
Harry Ford ranked as the weakest defender in the minor leagues this year when it came to challenging ball and strike calls. Tom Tango, well known in baseball analytics and a Senior Database Architect for MLB, highlighted that Ford struggled significantly with defensive challenges. He issued 93 total challenges, with 47 overturned and 46 unsuccessful. Based on the pitches involved, he was expected to finish with a much stronger 56 to 37 record.
Although pitch framing appears to be fading as a catching skill with the full arrival of ABS, Davy Andrews of FanGraphs believes it could actually widen the gap between standout defensive catchers and everyone else.
Ford’s athletic ability gives him options and a potential path forward. If he shifts to the outfield, he would not be breaking new ground. Several players have made that transition at the major league level, and a recent standout example is Daulton Varsho, who moved from primary catcher to one of the premier defensive outfielders in baseball.
So what direction will Ford take? If the Mariners believe he is too talented to part with, do they move him to the outfield, where he already gained some experience in the minors? If they determine he is not the right fit for their current roster, which club will step in to acquire him, and will that team face the same positional debate? For now, Ford’s future is full of uncertainty and open questions.