Mike Ford has signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan’s Nippon Skilled Baseball, the crew has introduced. Ford was designated for project by the Reds earlier this season. He elected free company reasonably than accepting an outright project to the minor leagues.
Ford, 32, signed with the Yankees as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Six years later, he made his MLB debut for the Bronx Bombers. A primary baseman and designated hitter, the lefty batter made fairly the impression in his rookie season, slugging 12 dwelling runs in 50 video games and placing up a .909 OPS. The next yr, at 28 years previous, he made his very first Opening Day roster.
Sadly for Ford, he struggled to duplicate that early success over the remainder of his tenure in pinstripes. He slashed .134/.250/.276 throughout 51 video games in 2020 and ’21, and the Yankees designated him for project in June 2021. He then bounced between the Rays, Nationals, Mariners, Giants, Mariners (once more), Braves, and Angels organizations earlier than touchdown again with the Mariners for a 3rd time forward of the 2023 marketing campaign. 4 years after his breakout, Ford would put collectively the most effective season of his profession. He compelled his method to the majors with 13 dwelling runs and a 1.031 OPS in 49 video games at Triple-A, then hit one other 16 dwelling runs with a .798 OPS in 84 video games for Seattle from June to October.
Regardless of his robust efficiency in 2023, the Mariners designated Ford for project on the finish of the season. He signed a minor league take care of the Reds this previous February, opted out in March, re-signed per week later, after which opted out once more in early Might. This time, he re-signed on a serious league deal, however after going 9-for-60 with a .411 OPS in 17 video games, he was designated for project on the finish of the month. Earlier than signing with the BayStars, he had been a free agent since Might 31.
