Pirates Pitching Prospect Makes MLB Debut in Tampa

The press release sent at 9:51 a.m. on Tuesday by the Pittsburgh Pirates made it official: pitcher Thomas Harrington would make his MLB debut that evening in Tampa against the Rays.

You always wish the very best for anyone getting their first taste of the big leagues. It didn’t go so well for Harrington during the four innings he threw: six earned runs, seven hits, four walks, and two strikeouts.

Ray's starter, Shane Baz, was on. He collected a career-high 10 strikeouts. At the end of the night, Tampa won 7-0. Pittsburgh’s record is at 1-5, with an afternoon game on Wednesday that has Paul Skenes scheduled to take the hill for the Buccos.

All isn’t lost for Harrington. One game. He appeared in one game. This kid is filled to the gills with talent. His character is off the chart. This I know after watching him for six weeks during spring training. I saw him throw for the first time a couple of seasons back with the Marauders in 2023.

Failure happens more times than success is experienced. At 23, Harrington has plenty of time to bounce back. When he arrived at Pirate City in February, he was ranked by Baseball America as the club’s No.3 organizational prospect. This was the second consecutive spring training that Harrington was a non-roster invitee. Management has big plans for him.

From my own observatvions inside the Pirates’ clubhouse at LECOM Park, Harrington fits in well with the rest of the pitching staff. At the far end of the clubhouse, Harrington's stall was next to fellow pitcher Jared Jones’ clubhouse home. Mitch Keller, Paul Skenes, and Caleb Ferguson also had their stalls there as well. Camaraderie was evident.

Pitching in Tampa on Tuesday didn’t come as a complete surprise for those who have been observing Harrington’s work this spring. He was one of the last cuts by Pirates’ manager Derek Shelton. The final exhibition game of the schedule on March 23 in Fort Myers with the Minnesota Twins, Harrington started for the Pirates.

Let us keep things in proper baseball perspective. Harrington’s appearance on Tuesday was only the sixth game of the Pirates’ 162 schedule. As the club’s 2022 draft pick (36th overall), Harrington has all the tools to succeed on the MLB level.

The club is off to a rocky start. Once wins begin being registered, momentum has a crazy way of being infectious. Skenes, Mitch Keller, Falter, when Jones returns from his elbow issues, Harrington no doubt will have more opportunities to erase the memories of an “off night” at George M. Steinbrenner Field on April Fools’ Day.

Coming into camp this spring, Harrington confirmed that he put on weight/muscle, to the tune of 10 lbs., in the off-season. His hope is that the added muscle will increase the velocity of his pitches. During his spring training appearances, Harrington had been topping the speeds of his pitches from last season.

As a baseball fan, you feel for a young kid getting smacked around in his first appearance. I have little doubt that the experience of the nerves that he must have felt walking to the mound on Tuesday played into Harrington’s execution. With information provided by Pirates’ pitching coach, Oscar Marin, after his Tampa experience, Harrington will grow as a professional.

Perhaps at his next opportunity in a Pirates uniform, an assignment at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park would be welcoming, and Harrington would have a stronger outing. He has too much potential not to keep believing in him.