Position: RHP
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 175 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 03/11/1998
College: University of Nevada
How Acquired: Draft 5th Round, 154th Overall, 2019
Bonus: $422,500
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2025
Options Left: 3
Overview
Ford was one of a string of overdrafts by the Pirates early in the 2019 draft. He wasn’t rated among the better draft prospects by any of the various outlets. He pitched strictly in relief at Nevada and served as their closer as a junior. He had a 2.76 ERA and held opponents to a .195 average. He struck out 51 and walked 13 in 45.2 IP. Those numbers were a great improvement over his sophomore and freshman seasons, when Ford had ERAs of 8.16 and 7.53, respectively. At the time, he threw 94-97 mph with an upper-80s slider. More recently, he throws 92-94. Ford signed for $79,100 over the slot value.
2019-21
After signing, Ford made eight starts and three relief appearances in the New York-Penn League. He had problems with walks at times but put up a 2.97 ERA. After missing the pandemic season, Ford made the jump to Greensboro, where he served as a swing man in 2021, making ten starts and 15 relief appearances. He mostly struggled, mainly due to walks and home runs. He gave up 17 of the latter with the Grasshoppers, or one every four and a half innings. The home park accounted for some of that, as he allowed 11 there, but his ERA was a little higher on the road, so that doesn’t explain the struggles. Both left- and right-handed batters hit him hard. Ford made two appearances at the end of the season for Indianapolis and got torched.
2022-23
In 2022, Ford opened the season back at Greensboro, got into five games in relief, and then went out with an unknown injury. He returned late in the year, getting into three rehab games. Ford opened 2023 back at Greensboro, then moved up to Altoona at mid-season. With the Hoppers, he had a 1.13 WHIP, with a 5.3 BB/9 and 11.8 K/9. He had more trouble in AA, where his WHIP rose to 1.59. He walked almost as many as he struck out at the higher level.
2024
Ford spent the entire season with Altoona, pitching in relief except for a couple of opener-type starts. He had a 3.95 ERA but a 1.54 WHIP. The latter resulted partly from Ford walking 5.1 per nine innings. He struck out 9.2. Left-handed hitters were a major problem. They hit 314/429/457 against Ford, while right-handed hitters managed only a .494 OPS.
Stats
Transactions
June 4, 2019: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 5th round, 154th overall pick; signed on June 12.