Overview
- Nationals Communications announced Ford was optioned to Triple-A Rochester, Abimelec Ortiz was optioned, and Riley Adams was reassigned to minor-league camp, setting Ruiz and Millas as the initial catching duo.
- Reporting indicates the club prioritized Ford’s regular at-bats and defensive development after his World Baseball Classic stint limited time to work with Nationals pitchers in camp.
- Analysts note potential service-time implications, with a mid to late April threshold that could shape when Ford is recalled.
- Ford joined Washington in an offseason trade engineered by GM Paul Toboni that sent reliever Jose A. Ferrer to the Mariners.
- The 23-year-old logged a .283/.408/.460 line over 97 Triple-A games last season and showed power for Great Britain at the WBC.