Just weeks before Christmas last year, Harry Ford had every reason to believe he was in the right place at the right time. The 2025 season was the perfect leap: dominating Triple-A Tacoma, making his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners, even hitting the playoffs. With Mitch Garver leaving the team, the path to Ford becoming the primary backup catcher for Cal Raleigh in 2026 seemed almost set.
Then December 6th arrived. And it all vanished.
A call. A short announcement. Harry Ford was no longer a Mariner. He was sent to the Washington Nationals in a trade that brought reliever José A. Ferrer to Seattle. For a 22-year-old who was the Mariners’ 12th overall draft pick in 2021, it wasn’t just a trade—it was a complete break from everything he knew.
Ford couldn’t hide his shock. He admitted the sadness didn’t come immediately, but rather later, when he was with his mother. Seattle wasn’t just an organization; it was where he grew up, where relationships, habits, and a sense of belonging were built over the years. Suddenly, it was all gone.
But time—and the silence—did its job.
As the new year began, Harry Ford no longer spoke of loss. He spoke of opportunity. Washington, with a younger roster and fewer barriers at the catcher position, offered something Seattle couldn’t: a runway to take off. Behind Cal Raleigh, Ford simply didn’t have room to breathe. At the Nationals, he had the chance to fight for a real MLB spot, not just a supporting role.
Objectively speaking, this was a better destination for Ford. But that doesn’t lessen the pain for the Mariners and their fans.
Because the scenario of “Harry Ford becoming a star in Washington” wasn’t far-fetched. He’s one of the most highly-rated prospects in the Seattle system, a player with the energy, physique, and personality suited to modern baseball. And now, he’s entering a new chapter with a motivation stronger than any coaching plan: to prove he’s not surplus to requirements.
The irony is that the Mariners aren’t wrong to prioritize the present and the need for a bullpen. But MLB history is full of examples of players who were “justifiably sacrificed” only to return and haunt their former teams for years. If Ford develops on the right trajectory with the Nationals, Seattle will have to live with the familiar question: are we rushing things?
Ford has another stage to ignite his passion: the 2026 World Baseball Classic in a England jersey. He’s no stranger to this tournament, having already exploded at the 2023 WBC with two home runs and 1,246 OPS. It was the perfect springboard before entering Spring Training and his first real season with the Nationals.
June is coming. The Mariners will travel to Washington for the games from June 12–14. At that time, all eyes will be on a name once considered the future of Seattle. And whatever the outcome, one thing is clear: Harry Ford will not step onto the court feeling forgotten.
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