Likable Former Mariners Slugger Blasts First Homer in Japanese League on Thursday
Mike Ford is on the board!
The popular former Seattle Mariners slugger hit his first home run as a member of the NPB on Thursday night. He's playing for the farm team of the Baystars, likely to get his timing back before a call-up to the big club.
The Yakyu Cosmopolitan posted the shot on social media.
Mike Ford hit his 1st homer since coming to Japan for the Baystars’ farm team, and it was a big one.pic.twitter.com/chCg34HQ5i
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) July 18, 2024
Ford signed on in the NPB back in early July after being let go earlier this year by the Cincinnati Reds.
Ford has spent parts of six years in the big leagues with the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels and Reds. He spent two different tenures with the Mariners, appearing for them in both 2022 and 2023. His 2023 tenure was memorable for fans because he provided some much-needed thump in that lineup.
In 83 games last year, he popped 16 homers and drove in 34 runs. He also had several key home runs late that fueled victories. That was his most successful major league season, and also represented the most games he'd played with a team in a major league season.
He became a free agent this past winter and signed a deal with the Reds but did not make the roster out of spring training. He played 17 games for Cincinnati this year and hit one home run while driving in four.
Ford will hardly be the only former Mariners player to be playing in a non-major league setting. Former M's second baseman Robinson Cano is raking in the Mexican League while Guillermo Heredia is finding success in the KBO.
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