'Home run hero' Ford feted by British school kids

March 14th, 2023

Harry Ford, the No. 49 prospect in baseball and No. 1 in the Mariners’ farm system, has been called the face of British baseball.

That fact is so well known that even a picture of Ford’s face makes a room full of children in England cheer wildly.

One day after Ford helped power Team Great Britain to its first victory in the World Baseball Classic, an elementary school classroom in Sudbury, Suffolk, welcomed the 20-year-old catcher to the school -- sort of.

One student dressed up as Ford, wearing a picture of his face as a mask and sporting a crown and a robe -- mimicking the team’s home run celebration -- and was grandly introduced to the entire class Tuesday, entering the room to uproarious applause from some of Great Britain’s youngest baseball fans.

This act of wholesome fandom caught the attention of Ford, who responded on Twitter, “You guys are awesome!! Glad I could join your class”

Ford doubled and walked twice in Great Britain's final game of pool play, a 2-1 loss to Mexico on Tuesday night. He finished the Classic with a batting line of .308/.400/.846, with four hits in 13 at-bats, two home runs, four RBIs, two walks and three runs scored.