First off, what have we said about Kyle Harrison in the past, here’s Itch, “No secret I don’t like this pitcher as much as other sites, who have frequently pushed him up around the top-20 range because he can be dominant when he’s in rhythm. Remains on the list despite a 1.56 WHIP because he could be a front-line starter if he ever finds a delivery he can repeat. Feels a bit like DL Hall in the sense that fantasy players have been boosting this guy for a long time despite relatively long odds that he’ll ever help much in the categories. Though, I do like Harrison more than Grey.” Not cool, moving on! That quote was a hair earlier than he was called up and he ended up with a 1.52 WHIP in Triple-A, which is bonkers. Less bonkers was his 1.15 WHIP in the majors last year in 34 2/3 IP. He also had a 9.1 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9. It is so funny how baseball is so unpredictable that hitters and pitchers find more success in the majors than they did in the minors. Sometimes, not all the time, naturally, but often enough that I get a good chuckle. Do not call me a chucklehead, that is not nice. So, what can we expect from Kyle Harrison for 2024 fantasy baseball?
Here’s the stuff, please allow it to dazzle the retinae:
Kyle Harrison’s first three batters in SF …
are also his first three strikeouts in SF. pic.twitter.com/moQ6yeJecE
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 29, 2023
Good morning, good afternoon, good night.
Kyle Harrison, 95mph ??
10th K thru 5. pic.twitter.com/ISipxn40oZ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 29, 2023
Yeah, his time with the Giants wasn’t, how do they say, bad. He works off three pitches: 94-95 MPH fastball; 82 MPH curve and 87 MPH change. People were convinced if his command got there he’d be a solid frontline starter. Like getting a free PBS tote? No, that’s a different Frontline. Also, you’re a nerd for knowing what I’m talking about. That his Triple-A walk rate was 6.6 BB/9, and that went to 2.9 BB/9 brings me to something I think is true about all pitchers, but especially true of rookie pitchers. They can lose feel and get wild. They can get feel and pinpoint better. For 40 IP, it could happen to be one way, then for the next 40 IP it could go the other way.
He could come on in April of 2024 and be lights out, then in May be hideous. This is impossible to know right now. He feels like a solid grab at the end of all redraft leagues, that could become a number two or might be a solid drop like a number two. The park is great; the opportunity appears to be there, and the stuff can be terrific. Also, a major point in his favor, he threw 100 IP last year, so he should be able to go for 130-ish innings this year. At 22 years old, a step forward would also not be shocking. Harrison could very well be the rookie starter to own like Grayson Rodriguez after he came back from the minors midseason, or he could be the Grayson Rodriguez who started the year in April and May by killing all of my teams. For 2024 fantasy, I’ll give Kyle Harrison projections of 8-10/4.29/1.33/138 in 131 IP.
