Walter Ford Stats & Scouting Report

IP	38.2
ERA	7.22
WHIP	1.68
BB/9	2.56
SO/9	7.45

Full name Walter Bryant Ford
Born 12/28/2004 in Pensacola, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 198 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Pace
Drafted in the CB-B round (74th overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 2022 (signed for $1,250,000).

View Draft Report

Ford is one of the youngest players in the 2022 class and doesn’t turn 18 until late December. He was originally a top prospect in the 2023 high school class, but he reclassified last fall after a strong summer on the showcase circuit. A 6-foot-2, 193-pound righthander, Ford has some of the best pure stuff in the country and impressive natural athleticism. His fastball sits in the low 90s and reaches 96-97 mph already at a young age. His fast arm speed gives him a chance to reach triple-digits once he fills out and reaches physical maturity. His go-to secondary is a sharp slider in the low 80s that shows impressive two-plane bite and high spin rates in the 2,600-2,700-rpm range. He will also show a low-80s changeup that has some promise, but he needs to develop more feel and consistency for the pitch. Ford has a lot of moving parts in his delivery, including a plunge in the back, a drop and drive in his lower half as he strides toward the plate and a bit of a spinoff in his finish. Despite those moving parts, his natural athleticism gives him a chance to have above-average future control. Ford has been a two-way player in high school and has the talent to play both ways at Alabama, but his upside is significantly higher on the mound. He’s viewed as a top-two rounds talent in the 2022 draft.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Nicknamed the “Vanilla Missile”, Ford was one of the top pitchers in the 2023 draft class before reclassifying to be eligible a year earlier. The Mariners drafted him in the supplemental second round and signed him for an above-slot $1.25 million to forgo an Alabama commitment. Ford made his pro debut in the Arizona Complex League in 2023, but pitched only 22.2 innings due to a series of minor injuries. He was never quite at full strength and saw his velocity drop 4-5 mph from high school.

Scouting Report: Ford is a long, lean 6-foot-3 righthander, who requires lots of projection. His fastball sat 88-92 mph in his pro debut, down from 92-97 when he was drafted, and he needs to get stronger to better hold his stuff. He has an explosive, athletic delivery and projects to add velocity as he fills out. Ford complements his fastball with a potentially above-average, 78-82 mph curveball with 11-to-5 shape and an average short slider in the 85-89 mph range. He also has a below-average, mid-80s changeup he rarely throws. Ford struggled with walks in his pro debut, but he projects to have average control as he gains strength and improves his body control.

The Future: Ford needs to get stronger to stay healthy and fulfill his mid-to-back of the rotation potential. He’ll move to Low-A Modesto in 2024.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Originally a top prospect in the 2023 class, Ford reclassified for the 2022 draft after a strong showing on the summer showcase circuit that included pitching three scoreless innings for USA Baseball's 18U National team. He followed with a solid spring at Pace (Fla.) High and was drafted by the Mariners in the supplemental second round, signing for $1.25 million to forgo an Alabama commitment. Ford did not pitch after signing but quickly built a popular public following. He is very active on social media and goes by the nickname 'Vanilla Missile', which he has branded on T-shirts, hats and other accessories he sells online.

Scouting Report: Ford already possesses loud stuff and has room to grow into even more velocity. His fastball sits 92-94 mph and touches 96-97 out of an athletic, powerful delivery. He still has room to get stronger in his 6-foot-3 frame and could touch triple digits as he reaches physical maturity. Ford complements his fastball with a potentially above-average curveball with 11-to-5 shape and big depth. His above-average slider features similar shape but is thrown harder. He also has a low-80s changeup he shows feel for but doesn't throw often. Ford has a lot of moving parts in his delivery, including an arm plunge in the back, and isn't always synced up with his timing and release point. He flashes average control when he's on time and has the ability to miss bats with three different pitches.

The Future: Ford's arm strength is exciting, but he is very young and has a lot of refinement ahead with his stuff and delivery. He will make his pro debut in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 40. Control: 50

Draft Prospects

School: Pace (Fla.) HS Committed/Drafted: Alabama
Age At Draft: 17.6
BA Grade: 55/Extreme
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: - | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: | Control: 55
Ford is one of the youngest players in the 2022 class and doesn’t turn 18 until late December. Originally a top-10 prospect in the 2023 high school class, Ford had a strong summer and opted to reclassify for 2022 last fall. After reclassifying he immediately joined the top tier of high school pitchers, thanks to impressive natural athleticism and some of the best pure stuff in the country. Listed at 6-foot-2, 193 pounds, Ford throws a fastball in the low 90s and he’s been up to 96-97 with the arm speed that could see him getting to triple-digits when he fills out and reaches physical maturity. His go-to secondary is a sharp slider in the low 80s which shows impressive two-plane bite at times and high spin rates in the 2,600-2,700-rpm range. Ford will also show a low-80s changeup that has some promise, but he needs to develop more feel and consistency of the pitch. Ford throws from a high, three-quarter arm slot and has some plunging action in the back of his arm stroke, with drop and drive in his lower half as he strides towards the plate and a bit of a spinoff in his finish. Despite those moving parts, some scouts have put above-average future control grades on Ford. He’s been a two-way player in high school and likely has the talent to play both ways at Alabama—if he makes it to campus—but his upside is significantly higher on the mound, where he’s viewed as a top-two round talent.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Originally a top prospect in the 2023 class, Ford reclassified for the 2022 draft after a strong showing on the summer showcase circuit that included pitching three scoreless innings for USA Baseball's 18U National team. He followed with a solid spring at Pace (Fla.) High and was drafted by the Mariners in the supplemental second round, signing for $1.25 million to forgo an Alabama commitment. Ford did not pitch after signing but quickly built a popular public following. He is very active on social media and goes by the nickname 'Vanilla Missile', which he has branded on T-shirts, hats and other accessories he sells online.

Scouting Report: Ford already possesses loud stuff and has room to grow into even more velocity. His fastball sits 92-94 mph and touches 96-97 out of an athletic, powerful delivery. He still has room to get stronger in his 6-foot-3 frame and could touch triple digits as he reaches physical maturity. Ford complements his fastball with a potentially above-average curveball with 11-to-5 shape and big depth. His above-average slider features similar shape but is thrown harder. He also has a low-80s changeup he shows feel for but doesn't throw often. Ford has a lot of moving parts in his delivery, including an arm plunge in the back, and isn't always synced up with his timing and release point. He flashes average control when he's on time and has the ability to miss bats with three different pitches.

The Future: Ford's arm strength is exciting, but he is very young and has a lot of refinement ahead with his stuff and delivery. He will make his pro debut in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 40. Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Originally a top prospect in the 2023 class, Ford reclassified for the 2022 draft after a strong showing on the summer showcase circuit that included pitching three scoreless innings for USA Baseball's 18U National team. He followed with a solid spring at Pace (Fla.) High and was drafted by the Mariners in the supplemental second round, signing for $1.25 million to forgo an Alabama commitment. Ford did not pitch after signing but quickly built a popular public following. He is very active on social media and goes by the nickname 'Vanilla Missile', which he has branded on T-shirts, hats and other accessories he sells online.

Scouting Report: Ford already possesses loud stuff and has room to grow into even more velocity. His fastball sits 92-94 mph and touches 96-97 out of an athletic, powerful delivery. He still has room to get stronger in his 6-foot-3 frame and could touch triple digits as he reaches physical maturity. Ford complements his fastball with a potentially above-average curveball with 11-to-5 shape and big depth. His above-average slider features similar shape but is thrown harder. He also has a low-80s changeup he shows feel for but doesn't throw often. Ford has a lot of moving parts in his delivery, including an arm plunge in the back, and isn't always synced up with his timing and release point. He flashes average control when he's on time and has the ability to miss bats with three different pitches.

The Future: Ford's arm strength is exciting, but he is very young and has a lot of refinement ahead with his stuff and delivery. He will make his pro debut in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 40. Control: 50
BA Grade: 50/Extreme

August Update: Ford is one of the youngest players in the 2022 class and doesn&#39t turn 18 until late December. Originally a top-10 prospect in the 2023 high school class, Ford had a strong summer and opted to reclassify for 2022 last fall. After reclassifying he immediately joined the top tier of high school pitchers, thanks to impressive natural athleticism and some of the best pure stuff in the country. Listed at 6-foot-2, 193 pounds, Ford throws a fastball in the low 90s and he&#39s been up to 96-97 with the arm speed that could see him getting to triple-digits when he fills out and reaches physical maturity. His go-to secondary is a sharp slider in the low 80s which shows impressive two-plane bite at times and high spin rates in the 2,600-2,700-rpm range. Ford will also show a low-80s changeup that has some promise, but he needs to develop more feel and consistency of the pitch. Ford throws from a high, three-quarter arm slot and has some plunging action in the back of his arm stroke, with drop and drive in his lower half as he strides towards the plate and a bit of a spinoff in his finish. Despite those moving parts, some scouts have put above-average future control grades on Ford.