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Washington Nationals 2026 Player Report: Harry Ford
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- Washington Nationals 2026 Player Report: Harry Ford
(Jeff Le-Imagn Images)
With the baseball offseason in full swing, it's time to dive into the role players in the Washington Nationals organization, looking back on 2026 and what could be ahead in 2027 and beyond.
This week, it's time to take a look at catcher Harry Ford.
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2026: Showing glimpses of potential
Ford came to Washington in December after the Nationals traded left-handed pitcher Jose A. Ferrer to Seattle. The former first-round pick was coming off a strong 2025 season at Triple-A Tacoma, where he hit .283 with a .408 on-base percentage and 16 home runs in 97 games.
He started the 2026 season at Triple-A Rochester, where the numbers weren't quite as good. Ford hit .223 with a .370 on-base percentage and a .705 OPS in 58 games. The power was down to four home runs, but he continued to draw walks and get on base.
Ford was hitting the ball much better by the time Washington called him up in July. Over his final ten games in Rochester, he went 11-for-32 with three doubles, two home runs, eight RBIs and 10 walks. That stretch earned him another opportunity in the majors, and he made the most of his debut against the Athletics, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.
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He wasn't able to keep that going for long. Ford finished with a .190 average, three home runs and a .664 OPS in 36 games with Washington. Still, his .314 on-base percentage was considerably better than his batting average, and he showed some of the plate discipline that made him an intriguing prospect in the first place.
The intrigue with Ford isn't so much how 2026 went, given the flashes he showed in the minors and majors. Instead, it's what comes next.
2027: What role could Ford play?
Ford will have a chance to compete for a larger role in 2027, but he isn't guaranteed a starting job. Keibert Ruiz is under contract through 2030, and Washington will have to decide how it wants to divide the playing time behind the plate.
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Ford's offensive profile is different from what he showed in the majors this season. In 2025, he hit 16 home runs at Triple-A and posted a .408 on-base percentage. In 2026, the power largely disappeared, but he still showed an ability to work counts. Getting more consistent contact without losing that patience will be important next season.
There's also the question of how much he can contribute defensively. Ford has good athleticism for a catcher, and his receiving improved in the minors in 2025. But he'll need to keep developing behind the plate if he wants to become a regular in the majors.
The Nationals don't have to make a long-term decision on Ford just yet. At 23, he has time to develop, and his minor league numbers suggest there's more to his bat than his major league production showed this year.
Ford heads into 2027 with a chance to make a case for himself. If the power returns and he continues to get on base, Washington could have a real competition for playing time behind the plate. For now, he remains a young catcher who showed enough in 2026 to make next season worth watching.
