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Kyle Harrison 2024 Outlook: Low Expectations For A Top Prospect
11 months agoKyle Harrison made his major league debut for the San Francisco Giants in 2023, making seven starts and finishing with a 1-1 record, 35 strikeouts, a 4.15 ERA, and 1.15 WHIP in 34.2 innings. The 22-year-old's first taste of big-league action produced some mixed results. Harrison's four-seam fastball generated an 11.5 SwStr% and .182 batting average upon its introduction to MLB hitters but opponents slugged .556 against his other pitches. His 7.5 BB% beat the league average, but it was likely a product of the small sample size and leaves room for regression toward his minor league career mark of 12.3%. The lack of an effective secondary pitch and the control issues will hurt his ratios but he should still be able to rack up a strikeout per inning. Still technically a rookie, Harrison will start the season in the Giants' rotation and he should have decent job security due to the team's lack of depth. RotoBaller's 246 ranking for Harrison and his current 277.94 ADP demonstrate restrained expectations for the young southpaw. Harrison's shortcomings will limit his fantasy viability in 2024 but taking a shot on him in the last rounds of a draft carries little risk given the inherent potential of a franchise's top pitching prospect.
