Farhan Zaidi. (Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports)
The San Francisco Giants have openly raved about left-hander Kyle Harrison. Now, Harrison is starting strong in spring training as his MLB debut awaits.
Last season, word started to get out of the San Francisco Giants‘ building about left-hander Kyle Harrison. The organization is high on him, enough where some people are openly calling him the organization’s best pitching prospect since Madison Bumgarner.
It’s early this spring, of course. But that buzz has not stopped. It’s only grown.
Star right-hander Logan Webb called Harrison a “stud.” Others in the organization have gushed about his ability. It’s likely that the Giants will have Harrison start the season in Triple-A, with a major-league debut during the 2023 season almost a certainty. And with Webb entrenched atop the rotation, pairing him with Harrison could give the organization its best pair of young pitchers since Matt Cain, Bumgarner and Tim Lincecum.
Just look at Harrison’s numbers from last season. In 25 starts (113 innings) in High-A and Double-A, the 23-year-old posted a 2.71 ERA and 186 strikeouts.
The Giants are being careful to not put too much on Harrison’s plate early in camp and don’t want to rush him to the majors. After all, he’s only pitched 211.2 career innings across two minor-league seasons. But with numbers like that, it’s hard not to imagine what’s possible for the young pitcher going forward.
Spring Training is often a time when teams and players gush about optimism. But with Harrison, the Giants’ love for their young left-hander is nothing new. It’s been brewing since they selected him in the 3rd round of the 2020 MLB June Amateur Draft. Now, he’s on the doorstep of making his long-awaited major-league debut.