Bio

Ford enters his second season as Ducks manager and 15th with the organization. During his first managerial season, he saw an Atlantic League best 10 players have their contract purchased by a Major League organization or foreign professional league. By leading the circuit, the Ducks garnered the league’s inaugural Player Transfers Award. Overall, the Ducks posted a winning record of 64-62 in Ford’s first season as skipper.

During his franchise-best 13-year playing career with the Ducks (nine as a player/coach), the 48-year-old totaled a team record 1,036 hits, good for the third-most in Atlantic League history. He ranks second all-time in franchise history for batting (.318, min. 1,000 at bats), games played (877), RBIs (511), runs scored (549), doubles (227) and total bases (1,541). In addition to being named the 2014 Atlantic League Player of the Year, Ford has helped two other Ducks earn the same honor (Jordany Valdespin, 2018; Steve Lombardozzi, 2021). He has also guided two Ducks to ALPB batting titles (Sean Burroughs, 2015; Alejandro De Aza, 2022).

The Selden, N.Y., resident played on the Ducks Atlantic League championship-winning teams in 2012, 2013 and 2019. He also helped lead the Flock to eight division championships and 11 postseason appearances as a player/coach. The seven-year MLB veteran with the Twins and Orioles set ALPB single-season records for hits (189) and games played (140) during his 2014 MVP season. Ford was also selected to play in three Atlantic League All-Star Games (2014, 2015 and 2018) and earned two ALPB Postseason All-Star selections (2014, 2018).