Wednesday, July 30

SEATTLE -- Now that Cole Young has made his much-anticipated leap to the Majors -- and in emphatic fashion, with a walk-off in his first career game on Saturday -- all eyes turn to the next player within the Mariners’ farm system who, by all measures, is also on the cusp.

Because catching prospect Harry Ford has been checking virtually every box in what’s been his best season yet. 

“He has put himself in the discussion that when you need the help, he's the next guy in line,” Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said.

Seattle’s No. 5 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 66 overall, Ford has been on an even hotter stretch than Young was before his callup at Triple-A Tacoma, while taking his game calling and receiving abilities behind the plate to a more polished level.

Since May 1, Ford leads all Triple-A players with a .411 batting average, while crushing five homers -- including a 443-foot blast that nearly left Cheney Stadium last Thursday -- along with six doubles, 11 walks and 14 strikeouts, for a 1.119 OPS.

His numbers were almost identical to Young’s in that stretch, with Dipoto saying of Ford: “He, too, is on an all-time heater. He's hitting bombs. His swing looks as clean as he's ever looked.”

And like Young, the 22-year-old Ford had a measured answer when asked if he’s pondered just how close he is to The Show.

“For sure, yeah, I do,” Ford said. “But this is where I'm at right now, and I'm just trying to be the best I can every day here. Get these pitchers, get the best out of them. And God has me here, so I'm going to do my best to be the best player here.”

Ford, Seattle’s first-round Draft pick in 2021, also faces maybe the biggest logjam in the sport at his position. 

Cal Raleigh has emerged as a legitimate American League MVP candidate, plays more regularly behind the plate than anyone else in the game and just signed a six-year, $105 million extension. Mitch Garver has solidified the backup role and carries a $12 million salary that, at least for now, is too expensive to part with.

When Ford does come up, the Mariners will ideally want him to play regularly -- as in more than once or twice per week. Otherwise, it could stall his continued development. 

“Teams don't typically get through a season with two catchers,” Dipoto said. “Somebody is going to need time down, somebody gets dinged up or beat up. Somebody needs two weeks off, whatever it is. We've been fortunate in that way, simply because Cal has been so durable over time, and Garv, in his time with us, has been incredibly durable.”

The Mariners are also adamant about keeping Ford at catcher, despite athleticism that could potentially correlate to another position and accelerate his path. Ford made eight starts in left field last summer for Double-A Arkansas in what was an experiment to that measure.

“You lose the study. You lose the focus. You lose the working with the pitcher,” Dipoto said. “Because on that day, instead of being inside, working through gameplans, sitting and conspiring with a starter and a pitching coach on a pregame plan for how they're going to handle it, or just being a fly on the wall, he's out doing his pregame on taking ground balls or fly balls -- while you're trying to maintain your offensive approach. It's just a lot.”

Added Ford: “They haven't talked about it since last year. So, yeah, I guess catching is the plan. That's my plan. I'm always going to fight to catch. I can play outfield if someone needs me to go out there, but I'm a catcher.”

There’s also the blunt reality that Ford’s greatest value could come in the context of the July 31 Trade Deadline. He’s in his fourth pro season, is so young, plays a premium position, is extremely athletic and is a model human being.

“Not surprisingly, teams do fall over themselves,” Dipoto said. “It's like, that's what you're looking for. And it just so happens that he is playing behind the best catcher in the world right now, and doesn't leave for a lot of reps.”

For all these reasons, Ford could be one of the organization’s most fascinating players to follow for the next two months.

The Big Unit was recognized in a big way on Monday by the Mariners, as the club announced that it will retire Randy Johnson's No. 51 jersey number in a ceremony next season.

It’s obviously the same number that was donned by Ichiro Suzuki, as both players will be represented in the jersey retirement.

“I'm just glad with the new ownership that they're doing this,” Johnson said.

Read the rest of his interview here »

Johnson’s career 3.42 ERA is tied with three others for the best in franchise history. Who is the lone outlier?

A. Jamie Moyer

B. Félix Hernández

C. James Paxton

D. Hisashi Iwakuma

The accolades are rightfully coming for Raleigh, who on Monday was named the American League Co-Player of the Week for May 26-June 1, along with Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero. It is the first weekly award of Raleigh’s career.

Raleigh, 28, went 8-for-23, good for a slash line of .348/.444/1.130 (1.574 OPS), and the week was obviously highlighted by his six homers, as Raleigh became the first catcher in MLB history to reach the 20-homer mark before June 1. 

Raleigh is the third Mariners player to win Player of the Week this season, after Jorge Polanco (April 21-27) and Dylan Moore (April 14-20). 

There’s a decent chance Raleigh will be in the conversation for AL Player of the Month, too.

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A. Jamie Moyer posted a 3.97 ERA across parts of 11 seasons with the Mariners from 1996-2006.

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