The Giants keep on calling up the kids to help save their playoff hopes.
Kyle Harrison, who is ranked as MLB.com’s top southpaw prospect in the game, joined the Giants in Philadelphia Monday and spoke to reporters about his upcoming debut, which is scheduled for Tuesday against the Phillies.
Harrison is just the latest high-profile rookie to get promoted to The Show this season, joining others like Casey Schmitt, Patrick Bailey, Luis Matos, Marco Luciano and Wade Meckler.
“I couldn’t be happier to be here,” Harrison told reporters Monday, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “Ready to help these guys out for whatever they need. (It’s) pretty surreal. I don’t think it’s even hit me yet, but it’ll be crazy.”
Harrison will be rocking the No. 45 jersey when he makes his debut in front of the rowdy fans in Philly. In 20 Triple-A starts with Sacramento this season, Harrison sports a 4.66 ERA with a 1.52 WHIP, which isn’t top-notch, but he’s struck out 105 batters and walked 48 in 65.2 innings pitched this season.
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi recently told reporters that Harrison was close to getting a promotion in late July before a hamstring injury delayed his call-up. Harrison has made three rehab starts since Aug. 5, allowing three runs on six hits, while striking out seven in four innings of work on Aug. 15.
The Giants have been cautious with his workload this season, as he is yet to throw more than five innings or 83 pitches in a game this year. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound lefty throws a fastball that can sit 96-97 mph and has a devastating slider that has led to an impressive 14.6 K/9 rate throughout his 279.1 career innings in the minor leagues.
The 22-year-old was born in San Jose and split time between Orange County and the East Bay growing up, before graduating from De La Salle high school in 2020. The Giants drafted Harrison in the third round and have been counting down to this day all season long.
Entering play Monday, the Giants (65-59) held a slim half-game lead for the final National League Wild Card spot.