Why Nationals are sending Harry Ford down to Triple-A to start 2026 MLB season
This isn't what Nats fans were expecting.
Why Nationals are sending Harry Ford down to Triple-A to start 2026 MLB season originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . When the Washington Nationals traded for Harry Ford this offseason, it was assumed the Seattle Mariners ' top catching prospect would immediately make a run at the starting catcher job in the nation's capital.
Turns out, Ford isn't even going to start 2026 on the MLB roster. On Wednesday, the Nationals sent Ford down to Triple-A Rochester, according to the Baltimore Banner's Andrew Golden . Fans quickly expressed some confusion with the move, which makes Keibert Ruiz and Drew Millas the top-two catchers on Opening Day.
That's a surprise. Thought Harry Ford was making the team ā Brandon Weber (@BsWebs2) March 18, 2026 There's likely at least some logic to this decision by Washington. MORE: Cubs' Daniel Palencia completes improbable rise for Venezuela Why did the Nationals send down Harry Ford?
There are likely two main components to this, with the main one being playing time. If Ford sticks with the MLB roster, maybe he plays half the time, or less, until he can unseat Ruiz from the first-string gig. The Nats would much prefer Ford to continue getting full-time action to help his development so that when it's his time for the majors, he's even more prepared.