'Sir Harry' puts world on notice with return to World Baseball Classic
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This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato's Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Before Harry Ford represents the Nationals for the first season, he will represent Team Great Britain in his second World Baseball Classic.
Ford was named to the 2026 international tournament this week. The announcement of the 22-year-old catcher drew global attention. Ford is ranked as the Nationals’ No. 2 prospect, MLB’s No. 9 catching prospect and MLB’s No. 42 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline.
“Sir Harry is returning to the international stage!” MLB Pipeline posted on X.
“The Fresh Prince of GB is back,” the Great Britain Baseball account wrote, also including a Ford highlight video.
“Harry Ford’s about to run it back,” MLB Europe posted.
Ford was acquired from the Mariners on Dec. 6 in exchange for reliever Jose A. Ferrer. The WBC runs in March during Ford’s first Spring Training with the Nats, where he will be competing for the starting role.
Ford, who grew up in Atlanta and was drafted out of North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Ga., in the first round in 2021, holds dual citizenship because his parents were born in Great Britain.
Ford spoke last month during his introductory video conference call – which he did from Great Britain during a family holiday trip – about how he has been looking forward to the global tournament.
“It 100% is a big thing for me,” Ford said. “We talk all the time about how we're always trying to grow the game and give people opportunities to play who don't have that chance. And that's a lot of kids here. A lot of kids are out here that – no matter how much they love baseball – they just can't play or don't have the means to train and get better.”
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As a 19-year-old playing at the Single-A level with the Mariners, Ford showcased his skills on the global stage in the 2022 Regensburg Qualifiers to help Great Britain earn its first WBC appearance.
Three years ago in the WBC, Ford slashed .308/.400/.846 with a 1.246 OPS. He connected on two home runs, four doubles and three runs scored in Great Britain’s four games.
“It was really cool getting to be on the first Great Britain team to make it to the WBC and win a game,” Ford said.
Team Great Britain is competing in Pool B at Daikin Park in Houston against Teams Brazil, Italy, Mexico and USA. Great Britain will play its first game of Classic Pool Play on March 6 vs. Team Mexico.
“That's definitely something I am passionate about: growing that here [in Great Britain] and giving kids a chance somehow, some way,” Ford said. “I don't have that completely mapped out yet what that looks like, but it is something that I am committed to seeing through.”
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During the 2023 WBC, Nationals players who participated included Joey Meneses – who hit two home runs in a win over Team USA – with Team Mexico and Alberto Baldonado with Team Panama. Manager Blake Butera, who worked in the Rays’ system at the time, was the bench coach for Team Italy on Mike Piazza’s staff in that tournament.