Walter Ford #36

Selected in the Completive Balance-B round (No. 74 overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners out of Pace (Fla.) High School... had committed to playing at Alabama before he signed with the Mariners on July 26, 2022 and received an over-slot $1.25 million signing bonus... began the 2021 summer as a two-way talent from Alabama, playing as both an infielder and right-handed pitcher, which led Ford to reclassify for the 2022 Draft and move back to his hometown of Pace, Fla., for his senior season in 2022... entered the 2023 season ranked as the Mariners' No. 8 prospect and No. 3 RHP... gave himself the nickname "Vanilla Missile" while pitching in high school; according to Ford, a high school teammate's father nicknamed him "Vanilla Prime" because, he said, "I looked like Vanilla Ice, with the gold chains, Jordans and the blond hair, and Prime because I played with the confidence of Prime-time Deion Sanders." ... Ford says he modified the nickname after watching Aroldis Chapman, nicknamed the "Cuban Missile" pitch for the Yankees... Ford then launched his own brand and website selling Vanilla Missile-themed merch, including hoodies, shirts, headbands, caps and shorts... went 10-2 with a 1.00 ERA in 13 appearances for Pace High School in 2022, making 12 starts... in 70 1/3 innings for Pace, he struck out 126, walked 30, allowed 1 home run and limited teams to 10 earned runs... attended the MLB Draft Combine in San Diego, available to the Top 300 prospects, ahead of the 2022 Draft... was ranked by MLB.com as the No. 53 prospect in the 2022 Draft class... made his Mariners debut in June 2023 with the team's Arizona Complex League affiliate

2023

Began the season with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Mariners, making his Mariners organizational debut on June 14, 2023... was ranked as the Mariners' No. 7 prospect at the time of his debut in June '23