Mike Ford has signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, the team has announced. Ford was designated for assignment by the Reds earlier this season. He opted for free agency instead of accepting an outright assignment 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 with the Bronx Bombers. A first baseman and designated hitter, the left-handed batter made quite an impression in his rookie season, hitting 12 hits in 50 games and posting a .909 OPS. The following year, at age 28, he made his first Opening Day roster.
Unfortunately for Ford, he failed to replicate that early success throughout his tenure in pinstripes. He slashed .134/.250/.276 in 51 games in 2020 and '21, and the Yankees picked him up for assignment in June 2021. He then hit between the Rays, Nationals, Mariners, Giants, Mariners (again), Braves, and organizations for the Angels before going back to back with the Mariners for the third time before the 2023 campaign. Four years after his breakout season, Ford would put together the best season of his career. He forced his way to the majors with 13 home runs and a 1.031 OPS in 49 games at Triple-A, then hit 16 more home runs with a .798 OPS in 84 games for the Seattle from June to October.
Despite his strong performance in 2023, the Mariners designated Ford for assignment at the end of the season. He signed a minor league deal with the Reds this past February, signed out in March, re-signed a week later, and then out. again in early May. This time, he re-signed to a major league contract, but after going 9-for-60 with a .411 OPS in 17 games, he was designated for assignment at the end of the month. Before signing with the BayStars, he had been a free agent since May 31.
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