The Washington Nationals made a trio of roster moves Friday that reshuffle catching depth and add pitching reinforcement as the club navigates the second half of the season.
Promoting a high-on-base prospect
The Nationals recalled 23-year-old catcher Harry Ford from Triple-A Rochester. Ford, the club's former top prospect after being acquired from the Seattle Mariners in December 2025, has been productive at Rochester this season and across his minor-league career.
In a recent 10-game stretch with the Red Wings, Ford went 11-for-32 (.344) with two home runs, three doubles, eight RBIs and a remarkable .500 on-base percentage. Over 58 games this season in Rochester he has a .223 batting average with 11 doubles, four homers, 22 RBIs and 45 walks.
| Stat | Value (Rochester, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Games | 58 |
| Batting average | .223 |
| Walks | 45 |
| On-base % (recent 10 games) | .500 |
Pitching depth returns
The club also reinstated right-hander Max Kranick from the 60-day injured list. Kranick, 28, signed with Washington on May 5 while recovering from right elbow surgery and logged eight rehab appearances across three minor-league levels, striking out 11 and walking two in 10.1 innings.
Kranick has prior Major League experience: he pitched in 24 games out of the New York (NL) bullpen in 2025, posting a 3.65 ERA, 25 strikeouts and a 1.05 WHIP. He first reached the majors with Pittsburgh in 2021.
Millas injured; catching depth shifts
To make room on the active roster, the Nationals placed catcher Drew Millas on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 12, with a fractured left index finger. The club announced the moves through President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni.
- Who’s coming up: Harry Ford (C)
- Who’s back: Max Kranick (RHP)
- Who’s out: Drew Millas (C), 10-day IL, retro to July 12
Ford’s recall gives the Nationals a young hitter with strong plate discipline and on-base skills. His minor-league walk totals — including ranking second in Minor League Baseball with 384 walks since 2022 and a .401 on-base percentage over that span — are notable markers of his approach, and they explain why the club turned to him following Millas’ injury.
Kranick’s return bolsters the bullpen mix as Washington manages workloads and looks to maintain depth for the stretch run. The timing of his activation — following multiple successful rehab outings — suggests the club sees him as ready to contribute at the major-league level.
These moves affect roster construction immediately, but the long-term impacts will be clearer as Ford adjusts to big-league pitching and Kranick returns to regular action. For fans tracking daily lineup and bullpen changes, the Nationals’ official roster page and game-day releases will have the latest updates.
— Harper Nguyen, Washington correspondent
