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SEATTLE — Harry Ford is showing maturity beyond his years, on and off the field, after just one pro season in the Mariners’ farm system.
At the end of the 2022 season, the 19-year-old catcher, ranked No. 1 Seattle prospect by MLB Pipeline, received the Alvin Davis “Mr. Mariner” Award, given annually to the Minor Leaguer who best represents exemplary play and leadership skills at the ballpark and in the community. Davis serves as a special mentor assignment for the club and still has an imprint, especially among its Minor Leaguers.
And against the backdrop of Thanksgiving this week, Ford had some reflective insights.
“It’s amazing, amazing,” Ford said. “Just being around Alvin Davis all year, and getting to know the kind of person and the kind of character he has and his values and beliefs — to be compared to someone like that is an absolute honor.”
Ford has spent Saturdays the past few weeks at the Mariners’ high-performance camp with his Minor League teammates spearheading local charitable efforts near the club’s Spring Training facility in Arizona. Some days, it packs boxes at a nearby food bank. Others, they go to baseball events to watch, coach or play with children with special needs.
During the regular season at Low-A Modesto, Ford and his teammates welcomed the local Little League Challenger program, which supports individuals with physical and intellectual challenges.
“We’re just doing what we can to let people know we care about them,” Ford said. “We want to see other people succeed besides ourselves, and it’s something that’s very important to the Mariners as a whole group.”
Seattle’s 2021 first-round pick with No. 12 overall selection, Ford had one of the most productive seasons in the system in ’22, slashing .274/.425/.438 (.863 OPS) with 11 homers, 23 doubles , four triples, 89 runs scored, 65 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 104 games, all in Modesto. His .425 on-base percentage is the 10th highest among all full-season Minors players this season.
At 5-foot-10, 200 pounds and playing a premium position, he is also considered the club’s most athletic prospect. The Mariners have a lot to dream about in what could be a quick ascent to the Majors. But also, Ford is grounded in his restoration efforts.
“Playing on a team and knowing how much teamwork is in everything, I think it’s just kind of something that’s instilled in all of us, from our childhood from growing up, that giving back to the community is important,” said Ford.
The Atlanta-area native credits her mother, Deborah, as her inspiration for embedding herself in the community. His family welcomed four foreign exchange students during his youth — one each from Germany and Argentina and two from Brazil — and he graduated from North Cobb High School (Kennesaw, Ga.), which has 67 % minority enrollment, according to Public School Assessment.
Such eclectic environments have allowed Ford to appreciate people from all walks of life — which could be especially important in baseball and leading up to this season.
“The love of baseball was something a little different, the time that really brought us all together,” Ford said. “I’ve made friends that I know will last a lifetime and the bonds are really close with these people, which is amazing. It’s just an amazing experience, every day.”
Ford received the Mr. Mariner Award, but he was quick to credit his teammates for their efforts, as well as Davis for leading and Dan Wilson, a special assistant in player development and member of the Mariners Hall of Fame, who led many of the this community effort.
“During the season, I think our job is to really encourage guys to do that,” Wilson said. “Encourage as many men as possible to take part, and it usually works really well.”
As the Mariners move out of their rebuild and into a competitive window — with more talent, like Ford, on the way — preparing them for the big leagues is more than what they’ll see in field, but also how they can help far from it.
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