The Washington Nationals are set to recall Harry Ford from Triple-A Rochester after the All-Star break, opening the door for his first major league appearance with the club. Drew Millas went on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left index finger fracture, and Ford is expected to step into the catching mix right away.
The move lands at a moment when the Nationals need a replacement behind the plate and want to see whether Ford can carry his recent form into Washington. The 23-year-old was the headliner in the offseason trade that sent Jose A. Ferrer to the Seattle Mariners, and he has remained part of the Nationals' long-term plans since arriving.
Ford’s numbers in Rochester were uneven overall, with a.223 average and a.705 OPS, but they have improved sharply in recent weeks. He posted an.841 OPS in June and a 1.028 OPS in July, production that has come while he has been playing through a shoulder injury that has slowed him for much of the season. He briefly debuted with Seattle last season, so this will not be his first trip to the majors, but it will be his first chance to settle into a role with Washington.
That opportunity comes with a clear opening. Millas was hitting.185 with a.539 OPS in Washington this season, even while drawing praise as one of the best receiving catchers in MLB this year. Ford figures to back up Keibert Ruiz for now, which gives the Nationals a fresh option at a position where they have been searching for steadier offense.
The timing is also tied to the start of the second half, which opens Friday against the Athletics, when the Nationals will also have Max Kranick available for his debut in Sacramento. For Ford, the next step is straightforward: the recall, the arrival, and then the first at-bat that turns a prospect name into a Nationals player.
