Nationals to promote prospect Harry Ford after catcher Drew Millas’ injury: Source – The Athletic

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Nationals to promote prospect Harry Ford after catcher Drew Millas’ injury: Source - The Athletic

Harry Ford will make his Nationals debut soon. Kenneth Richmond / Getty Images

The Washington Nationals will recall top catching prospect Harry Ford from Triple-A Rochester after the All-Star break, team sources told The Athletic on Wednesday.

Ford, ranked No. 5 in Keith Law’s preseason top 20 Nationals prospects, was the headliner in an offseason trade that sent closer Jose A. Ferrer to the Seattle Mariners and is expected to factor into the organization’s long-term plans.

Ford will take the place of catcher Drew Millas, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday (retroactive to Sunday) with a left index finger fracture. Millas’ finger has looked purple and swollen throughout the season after he fractured and dislocated it in 2025.

Ford, the No. 12 pick in the 2021 draft out of a Georgia high school, has had an up-and-down season behind the dish and hit .223 with a .705 OPS for Rochester, but has been playing through a shoulder injury that has hampered his production, according to multiple people with knowledge of the injury who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak freely about the injury.

Over the last six weeks, Ford’s offensive production has taken a significant step in the right direction, as he whiffed at fewer pitches in the zone, chased fewer pitches outside of it and hit the ball with a bit more force. The 23-year-old catcher, who debuted briefly with Seattle last season, posted an .841 OPS in June and 1.028 OPS in July. He figures to back up Keibert Ruiz for now.

Millas was hitting .185 with a .539 OPS in Washington this season, but has been one of the best receiving catchers in MLB this year.

The Nationals will also have reliever Max Kranick, whom they signed to a major-league deal in May, when the second half opens Friday against the Athletics. Kranick had been on a rehab assignment with the team and is slated to make his Nats debut in Sacramento as Washington (MLB-high 27 blown saves) searches for a solution to its bullpen woes.

Jul 18, 2026