M’s select Yankees’ AAA 1B Mike Ford, LHB, recently named Yankees’ Prospect Batter of the year. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=ford--000mik&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-
In 597 AA PA’s, he’s hit 18 homers, .274-.412-.452 w/110 BB and 81 K’s.
In 115 AAA PA’s, he hit 7 HR, .266-.383-.543 w/ 18 BB and 16 K.
He’s a 1B (or DH) or bust guy, so he brings some pop, an eye and zero positional flexibility.
Truthfully, this move seems odd. He collides directly with Healy and Cruz, and indirectly with Vogs. Being a Rule 5 guy, we can’t stuff him in Tacoma, either. DiPoto has either hinted at, or flat out said, that we will run a 13 man staff. If true, that means we only get to keep 12 Bat/glove combos. It makes no sense to have 3 of them ((essentially) 1B/DD only guys. Sure, Healy can play 3B, but how many games does Seager miss?
So I am looking at the Ford get as a precursor to a trade, where an arm comes our way. Either Ford or Healy (or Cruz, in a long shot) goes In some sort of deal.
Here’s a AA tater from last year. Short stroke, Griffey-esque follow througH.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=268iEHo9OQw
There’s something to like here, but I have no clue where he fits In ‘18. If you could AAA him for a year, you you would have something nice, but I can’t imagine he slips by everybody if the Yankees don’t want him back.