The Rays have hired former big-league first baseman Mike Ford to a front office role. The 33-year-old spent parts of six MLB seasons with a half dozen teams. Ford’s specific position is unclear, but Kristie Ackert of the Associated Press reports that the veteran will be working with minor leaguers as part of the gig. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported in February that Ford would be joining the Rays in a player development role.
Ford was in camp with the Twins last season. After falling short of a roster spot, he landed in NPB for 25 games with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. The front office job would suggest Ford is hanging up his spikes. If so, he’ll finish his MLB career with 37 home runs in 252 games.
Ford became a cult hero in New York for his tremendous finish to the 2019 season. The first baseman briefly debuted in April that year, but failed to stick on the roster after hitting .167 in limited opportunities. Ford was recalled in early August after Edwin Encarnacion broke his wrist. He put together a torrid two-month stretch to close the campaign, posting a .953 OPS with 11 home runs over 39 games. The Yankees won 103 games and captured the AL East title for the first time since 2012. With Encarnacion healthy, Ford was left off the playoff roster.
The shortened 2020 season was unkind to Ford, as he slashed .135/.226/.270 across 84 plate appearances. He did make his postseason debut that year, going hitless in two at-bats. Ford was dealt to the Rays for cash in 2021. He wouldn’t stick with any organization for too long following his time in New York. Ford appeared in big-league games with four different teams in 2022. The first baseman hit a career-high 16 home runs with the Mariners in 2023, though it came with a 32.3% strikeout rate. Ford last appeared in the majors with the Reds in 2024.
Photo courtesy of Albert Cesare, Imagn Images
Congrats on the job!
Got to watch him on the Saints last year. Seems like a good dude and with his interest overseas dwindling it makes sense he is calling it quits.
Relation to Ford, Disco Danny?
Hah, no. But a new Ivy League front office guy…he went to Princeton.
Cool with that. Will Venable one of the many other Ivy guys in the sho, played hoops at Princeton.
yankee legend
The epitome of a replacement player with a career 0.0 WAR.
Wins Above Ford
Perfectly balanced.
The pride of Belle Meade. And Princeton. Should make a useful front office member. Good luck.
I can’t believe he’s only 33
A Princeton grad and good New Jersey boy. Congratulations l.
Career year with the Mariners in 2023, only hit .228 but belted 16 Home Runs in 83 games. The power was there, just not the ability to hit MLB pitching. Congrats to him for whatever his role in the Rays front office will be
I was surprised we gave up on him so quickly during the bad offense years he was one of our best hitters
It’s early but 2026 is giving me PTSD flashbacks of 2023-24 where we always lose 1-0 or 2-1
Well he’s not running for mayor of Toronto, now we know why…..
Man, Harry Ford’s career cratered fast.
Or I need more coffee.
He never really took off. I think even as a prospect he was destined to be a replacement level hitter.
Was never expected to make the majors after the Yankees signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Princeton. Followed him early on after he hit three HRs in a game for A-ball Charleston back in 2014. Always fun to follow and root for a player not expected to make it, but you suspect has a little more in him than projected. Good power and a good eye. More of a AAAA player who exceeded expectations. An Ivy League guy who played the game. Strikes me as someone who will do well in the front office. The Rays are a good organization to make that transition.
Remember when the Angels were wearing their city connect unis and he ran out and I think played an inning wearing their regular cap by mistake? That was awesome.