M’s may be readying to call up prospect Harry Ford with Garver hurt

The Seattle Mariners may be nearing the promotion of another top prospect after an unfortunate turn of events.

With catcher Mitch Garver injured in Thursday’s 10-1 loss to Minnesota, the M’s may be in need of another player who can be the backup to MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh behind the plate.

Mitch Garver exits game, forcing Mariners to forfeit DH

If that ends up being the case, it appears 2021 first-round MLB Draft pick Harry Ford will be the Mariners’ choice.

Ford was initially penciled in to catch and hit third for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on Thursday night, but a revised lineup without Ford was released just before the 5:15 p.m. first pitch of their game at Round Rock.

Mariners insider Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports reported Thursday night that Ford is joining the team’s taxi squad while Garver is evaluated after being hit by a ball in the jaw.

Harry Ford expected to travel to Arlington on the taxi squad -and he could literally take a taxi as the Rainiers are in Round Rock- as the Mariners await further evaluation on Garver’s jaw injury.

— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) June 27, 2025

It will be an easy trip for Ford to join the Mariners ahead of their series opener Friday against the Rangers. Round Rock is Texas’ Triple-A affiliate, roughly a 2 1/2-hour drive away from Arlington, where the Rangers play at Globe Life Field. Game 1 of the series is set for 5:05 p.m., with Seattle Sports radio coverage set to start at 4 p.m. with the pregame show.

Ford, 22, is ranked No. 60 overall on the MLB.com top 100 prospect list, which is fifth out of the nine Mariners players on the list. Seattle selected Ford, a native of Georgia, No. 12 overall in the draft four years ago out of high school.

Harry Ford hits his second career GRAND SLAM! pic.twitter.com/otRMcHxurO

— Tacoma Rainiers (@RainiersLand) June 12, 2025

Ford, who swings right-handed, has been on a roll with his bat for the Rainiers this season, his first at Triple-A. He owns a .311 average, .426 on-base percentage, .469 slugging percentage and .895 OPS in 60 games. He has eight home runs, 12 doubles, 43 RBIs, 40 runs and three stolen bases, and has shown patience with 43 walks to just 47 strikeouts.

The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Ford has a rare amount of athleticism for a catcher, and has shown the ability to drive the ball at all levels he’s played at, including in the 2023 World Baseball Classic for Great Britain.

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• Five players Mariners could trade for at 3B, a big position of need
• New level, same power: M’s prospect Montes mashes 435-foot HR
• Seattle Mariners officially letting 1B Rowdy Tellez go
• Seattle Mariners trade targets from each clear deadline seller

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