Agent: Ford will adjust quickly to new team

By BEN WATANABE • Staff Writer • July 22, 2008


VINELAND -- Darren Ford officially is the newest member of the San Francisco Giants organization.
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The 2004 Vineland High School graduate reported to the San Jose Giants of the High-Single A California League on Monday in preparation for a new chapter in his career.

Ford was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers along with left-handed pitcher Steve Hammond to the San Francisco Giants for veteran second baseman Ray Durham. After three-and-a-half years in the Brewers organization, Ford was on the move for the first time.

"This will be nothing for him as far as making an adjustment," said Josh Kusnick, Ford's agent with Double Diamond Sports Management. "He's been through some stuff in his life that's helped mold him into the person he is today, and I don't think this is something that will be that difficult for him."

Ford was en route from Tampa, where he had been playing with High-A Brevard County of the Brewers, to San Jose and was not available for comment Monday.

Adding an element to the deal is Ford's Rule V eligibility at the end of this season. If the Giants do not protect Ford by placing him on their 40-man roster, he would be available for another team to pick up in the December draft. A player taken in the Rule V draft must remain on the Major League roster for a full season or be returned to the team that left him unprotected.

"I was fairly confident Milwaukee was going to protect him at the end of the season just because of all they have invested in him," Kusnick said. "The Giants run a good organization over there and I'm almost certain they'd be aware of that situation."

The Brewers had considered turning Ford into a switch-hitter this offseason, according to Kusnick. That may be something the Giants pursue also. Ford batted .288 with a .408 on-base percentage versus lefties this season, compared to .218 and .303, respectively, versus righties.

Overall, Ford was one of the most feared players in the Florida State League when he got on base. He leads the FSL and is second in all of minor league baseball with 48 stolen bases, batting .230 with two home runs and 27 runs batted in.

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