What to Expect from Giants Left-Hander Kyle Harrison

With a less more than a month before the end of the 2023 MLB regular season, the Giants will call upon arguably their best pitching prospect to delivery quality innings down the stretch. Left-hander Kyle Harrison is coming to the Giants and he’s set to make his MLB debut this week. Here’s a closer look at Harrison.

A Look at Harrison

The 2020 MLB Draft was a strong one for the Giants. Not only did San Francisco pick a potential franchise catcher in Patrick Bailey and a toolsy infielder in Casey Schmitt, but also left-hander Kyle Harrison in the third round.

A strong 6’2” lefty, Harrison became one of the Minors’ best strikeout pitchers almost immediately. In 2021 with San Jose (A), Harrison struck out 157 over 98.2 IP back in 2021, then added 186 more to his career ledger a year over 113 IP.

Harrison began the year in Sacramento (AAA), but didn’t find success right away. While he still struck out plenty of batters with the River Cats (105 over 65.2 IP), Harrison’s BB/9 rate ballooned to 6.38, much higher than the 3.9 one he had from a year earlier. Harrison also gave up more hits and home runs in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but still pitched to a respectable 4.66 ERA in the circuit.

Harrison spent about a month on the IL between early July and August. After the 22-year-old returned, he went 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA, 13 strikeouts, and four walks over 9.1 IP.

While the walks are a concern, there’s no doubt that Harrison’s strikeout numbers are an indication of what he can become. The 22-year-old boasts a mid-90s fastball that just from looking at video, is a pitch with life and one that’s really tough to pick up with his delivery.

Couple that with two pitches — a slider and changeup — that MLB.com projects to be above-average, and the Giants have a pitcher that could profile as at least #2 — but the potential of an ace.

Harrison’s promotion means that arguably the two best prospects in the Giants farm — the left-hander himself and Marco Luciano — will have made their MLB debuts in the 2023 season. The 22-year-old’s set to make his MLB bow on August 22 against the Phillies.

What it Means for the Giants and Fantasy Outlook

It’s all hands on deck for the San Francisco Giants, who sit in the second NL Wild Card spot as of August 20.

San Francisco’s rotation has two regular starters in Alex Cobb and ace Logan Webb, but have scraped together games with openers and piggybackers on a regular basis. That strategy hasn’t hurt from an overall standpoint, as San Francisco entered play on the 20th ninth in the league in ERA (3.93), 11th in wOBA (.309), and have been winning games. But on the flip side, the Giants also sit in the bottom half of the league in strikeouts, WHIP, opponent’s batting average.

Harrison’s got the stuff to be a pitcher at the MLB level in the long-term — and an elite one, at that — but the Giants will hope that his stuff can translate into success now for a team that needs to fight off the likes of the Reds, Marlins, Cubs, and Diamondbacks for a playoff spot.

Now as far as Harrison’s short-term fantasy outlook is concerned, it’s likely wise to see how he does against a tough Phillies team on the road before going to grab him. However, the stuff and ability to get whiffs is tantalizing.