Despite the myriad injuries they faced a year ago, the Yankees amassed 103 wins and boasted the majors’ highest-scoring offense. There were many unsung heroes along the way for the Bronx Bombers, including hulking first baseman Mike Ford, a former undrafted player out of Princeton University who went on a tear during his first stint in the bigs in 2019.
Ford, soon to turn 28, has been a member of the Yankees organization for just about all of his pro career, but he did spend some time with the Mariners last year. That came after Seattle chose Ford 11th overall in the December 2018 Rule 5 Draft. But the Mariners determined in late March they didn’t have a place for Ford, so the Yankees got him back. It was a fortunate turn of events for New York, with which Ford slashed .259/.350/.559 (134 wRC+) and smacked 12 home runs over 50 games and 163 plate appearances. Among 411 hitters who totaled at least 150 PA, Ford ranked 15th in isolated power (.301, tying him with Reds 49-homer man Eugenio Suarez).
Was Ford’s outburst just the product of a small sample size? It’s quite possible – after all, it’s not atypical for a player to come out of nowhere to succeed in.a low number of at-bats, only to crash to earth thereafter. But there are plenty of promising signs that go beyond Ford’s bottom-line numbers from 2019.
For one, Ford has a history of quality production in the minors. Just last year, for example, Ford hit .303/.401/.605 with 23 homers in 349 PA in Triple-A ball. Even in an offensively charged environment, his output was an eye-popping 51 percent above average, according to FanGraphs’ wRC+ metric. And Ford collected nearly as many unintentional walks (46) as strikeouts (55), which has been a trend throughout his pro career. Ford, unlike many hitters, doesn’t sell out for power at the expensive of strikeouts. He only fanned 17.2 percent of the time in the majors last year (compared to a solid 10.4 percent walk rate) and swung and missed at a meager 8.1 percent clip. For reference, the average MLB hitter posted a 23 percent strikeout rate, an 8.5 percent walk rate and an 11.2 percent swinging-strike rate.
Digging deeper, Ford was a Statcast hit, as he logged an expected weighted on-base average (.365) that almost matched his real wOBA (.372). In terms of batted-ball profile, his main comparables included Mookie Betts, Justin Turner, Max Kepler, Marcus Semien and Kyle Seager. That’s pretty good company. Ford accomplished those feats despite an abnormally low .243 batting average on balls in play, but it’s worth pointing out that he isn’t fleet of foot – not to mention that HRs don’t factor into BABIP. He’s not an ideal candidate to put up a high number in that category, anyway.
Looking ahead, if we’re lucky enough to get a 2020 season, Ford seems to have the potential to at least serve as a useful part of the Yankees’ offense for the second straight year. He doesn’t have the clearest path to extensive playing time, however. The Yankees also have the offensively capable Luke Voit–Miguel Andujar tandem as first base possibilities. And they, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez could eat into DH at-bats (though Ford’s the lone left-handed hitter of the group). It’s tough to argue with what Ford did last season, though, and he just may prove to be another keeper for their offense if that carries over.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
isnt any Yankees player a “potential breakout candidate?”
Especially with Connor Byrne writing.
Connor’s a Met fan inn
This seems to be a site where the majority of the writers are Yankees fans.
Not the case
You guys hate the Yankees so much not realizing that their massive fanbase play a large role in keeping sites like these alive. Get over it.
Yankees wankers
Yeah, swing those balls around – you win!
Yankees dont run MLB, despite what their fans think. And their fans are amongst the worst, lowest people on earth.
He has good numbers so far. Good to know. I thought his gut was the only breakout candidate.
God piece
Now if Ford doesn’t breakout, Yankees fans are going to be asking for Connor Byrne’s head!
Voit has 1B covered, don’t need anything outta Ford but to stay out of other clubs.
How long before he’s injured?
facts
As a Yankee fan I’d love to see it but Ford’s going to have a hard time getting at bats. Voit is firmly ahead of him in line for 1B duties and Andujar probably sees some time there as well
I’m rooting for Ford as a Yankees fan and someone that thought he still could succeed when he initially struggled in the big leagues but had some peripheral stats that pointed to some better times ahead. It’s also cool to see a late draft pick work his way to MLB
1B prospects are a dime a dozen. He might be a platoon hitter against lefties but I doubt he becomes a everyday 1B.
You don’t know much about ford do you? He hits left handed and can rake
Nobody knows much about Ford lmao.
He’s only had 36 PA against lefties and 127 against righties. And in those small sample sizes he’s had reverse splits.
Yes he “ rakes” so much he is a 28 year old nobody has ever heard of or should I say cared to hear about.
What makes you think he will be platooning against lefties as a left handed hitter ? Unless you just dont know much about him actually
If you look at last year stats he hit lefties and was not that great against righties. 7 home runs in 36 at bats against lefties. Some left handed hitters see the ball better against left handed pitchers.
Maybe Ford will be the next Voit and Voit will be the next Bird
Voit will never come close to goat status.
Ford in the left handed modern day version of Steve Balboni.
Balboni was great
I support this article because times are crazy and I appreciate this site and the hard work of its writers. That said… Mike Ford? Of all potential breakout bats? Huh.
Where is your problem with this assessment? Ford is an undrafted player, who had a both surprising and remarkable stint last year. If he shows this for a longer period, he will be a breakout player indeed.
Gruß,
BSHH
If Voit goes down to injury, he could be the next Wally Pip. Ford needs an opportunity and the Yanks need a lefty slugger desperately in their lineup.
Agreed on Ford’s potential. He has a good chance to play more than expected with the franchise oddly short of lefty bats.
Too many DH types? Trade pieces for that last starter they need. Ford and Fraser could get them Lester.
Not Lester. That’s the kind of franchise crushing trade Boss George lived to make in the ‘80s and early ‘90s. Fortunately, the wise guidance of Stick Michael and Brian Cashman have avoided such painful mistakes over the last 25 years.
Stanton?
And you were one of the people who didnt like the trade from day 1? I remember meltdowns and nervous breakdowns from people crying “collusion” beacause the Yankees got a former MVP for spare parts and the Marlins will be paying some if he doesnt opt out.
Gene Michael / Bob Watson era sure. Cashman though, has inked a ton of past their prime starting pitchers over the years.
I’ve been saying this for years, all Ford needed was to be given a shot, and he got it last year. He’s definitely gonna have a hard time getting steady playing time but bot Miggy and Voit are a lil injury prone so he should get them.
Good article
Dipoto is clueless at evaluating talent, vol. 5887
Career .829 OPS in 2222 minor league AB. .909 in 143 major league AB.