Rookie Catcher’s Big League Debut | Washington Nationals News

**Corey** (0:00)
It's July 18th. Welcome in. This is Washington Nationals News Today, where your team meets AI. I'm Corey with the story. Rookie catcher, Harry Ford, made some serious noise in his first start for the Nationals, dropping his first major league home run in a massive 23-4 win against the Athletics.
This was only his ninth big league game, but he wasted no time sending a fastball over the fence in the fifth inning, bringing in a teammate and extending the lead.
He finished the game with two hits, a walk, three runs scored, and three RBIs. Ford was acquired from the Mariners back in December and has been showing off his skills. His ability to get on base, evident from his high on-base percentage in Triple-A, is what got him called up. He replaced an injured catcher stepping right into the lineup and making an immediate impact. Before the game, he got the call to join the big leagues while on a hike. He'd had a brief taste of the majors last September with Seattle, but now he's writing a new chapter with Washington. His manager highlighted Ford's plate discipline, noting how he works, counts and gets on base, which is crucial for the team's offense. Beyond the homer, Ford also showed his value behind the plate. He and pitcher Cade Cavalli worked together effectively, even successfully challenging a call that ended in inning.
Cavalli praised Ford's feel for the strike zone, crediting him with saving a key moment in the game. It was a whirlwind debut for Ford, but after the dust settled, he finally had a moment to soak in the accomplishment of his first big league homerun. A moment that clearly meant a lot to him and his family.