MLB will host the World Baseball Classic in March 2023.
Some of the best players of the sport will be present, representing countries such as United States, Japan, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Mexico, and many more.
There are, however, four spots still up for grabs: there are two qualifying tournaments in place at the moment that will define those four positions in baseball’s biggest world-caliber tournament.
Great Britain is currently fighting for one of those spots, and is led by a young Seattle Mariners stud: Harry Ford.
He is already making some noise as he tries to get team Great Britain to the WBC.
“19-year-old Harry Ford goes deep for Great Britain! A two-run dinger for the @Mariners‘ No. 1 prospect in @WBCBaseball qualifiers,” MLB Pipeline tweeted.
19-year-old Harry Ford goes deep for Great Britain!
A two-run dinger for the @Mariners' No. 1 prospect in @WBCBaseball qualifiers.
WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/XJYxAq32pt pic.twitter.com/U0PTKJzOag
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 16, 2022
The Mariners’ 2021 First-Round Pick Oozes Talent
Ford, a catcher, was the Mariners’ first-round draft pick last year.
He was selected 12th by Seattle, and he is widely viewed as the catcher of the future in the organization.
He still has a long way to go before reaching the major leagues (he finished at Class-A this year before embarking on his journey with team GB), but is a very promising player.
In 499 trips to the plate, Ford hit .274/.425/.438 with 11 home runs and 23 stolen bases.
A catcher with that kind of speed is a rarity, but Ford is destined to make history.
The international experience of playing for a spot in the World Baseball Classic will also be great for his development.
He is expected to be in play for a call-up to Seattle in two or three years, and is part of the future of a very promising franchise.
NEXT: Numbers Show Just How Dominant Mariners Pitching Has Been