Mariners are already making fans impatient with refusal to use Harry Ford

When the Seattle Mariners finally included top catching prospect Harry Ford in their September call-ups, the fanbase let out a collective sigh of relief.

This was supposed to be a “finally” moment. For weeks, fans had clamored for Ford to get his shot, especially given Mitch Garver’s roller-coaster season as Cal Raleigh’s backup. Instead, what they’ve gotten so far feels like a bait-and-switch.

Ford, 22, has spent the season proving he belongs in the conversation. After opening the year in Triple-A Tacoma, he quickly became a model of consistency, slashing .283/.408/.460 with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs. For a catcher, those numbers aren’t just solid, they’re elite. 

Mariners’ handling of Harry Ford already frustrating fans

And yet, since being called up on September 1, Ford has yet to see the field. Not a start. Not a late-inning substitution. Not even a token pinch-hit appearance. Meanwhile, Garver, the very player fans thought Ford would share time with, has already logged two pinch-hit opportunities.

It’s hard not to ask: Why is Ford even here?

Yes, the Mariners can argue that Ford’s inexperience catching Seattle’s staff makes him the logical “third catcher” for now. Raleigh is entrenched as the starter, and Garver, for all his inconsistencies, has years of experience working with big-league pitchers. But the whole point of carrying three catchers is flexibility. It’s supposed to open the door to situations where Ford could get his feet wet without overexposing him. Those situations have already presented themselves, and the Mariners keep passing.

Take September 1 against the Rays. Emerson Hancock came in for mop-up duty during a game that was already getting out of hand. Just days earlier, Hancock and Ford were working together in Tacoma. If there was ever a low-pressure chance to ease Ford into the big-league battery, that was it. Instead, the Mariners went the safe route and kept him on the bench.

This is where Mariners fans’ frustration feels justified. Seattle doesn’t need to hand Ford the keys to the car and tell him to replace Cal Raleigh. But if his September looks like endless bench-warming and the occasional token at-bat, it’s a wasted opportunity.

Development isn’t just about time in the minors; it’s about timing in the majors. Sporadic, stop-and-go usage risks stunting Ford’s progress in the same way the Diamondbacks mishandled Jordan Lawlar this year, when he was yo-yoed into big-league games with no rhythm and no real plan.

The Mariners have been burned before by letting top prospects rot on the bench rather than committing to their development. Ford is too important to repeat that mistake. If he’s here, he needs to play, even if it’s just one or two starts a week and a handful of pinch-hit reps. Otherwise, the organization is better off keeping him in Tacoma, where he can continue building momentum every day.