Thomas Harrington is locker mates with Jared Jones in the clubhouse at LECOM Park. The two are often found hanging out, talking ball and sharing stories. While they don't share the same demeanor, the two right-handers have shared the same path.
A year ago, it was Jones who was the non-roster invite trying to work his way onto the Pirates' opening day roster and now, as the team inches closer to its first game against the Marlins on March 27 at LoanDepot Park, Harrington is trying to do the same thing.
While some of the organization’s best pitching prospects, including Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft, have been reassigned to minor league camp, Harrington remains with the big league club. Some might not have expected him to be here, but he wouldn't include himself in that group.
"I definitely believed I could (make the big league club), so I expected to be here," Harrington said. "Obviously, whatever decisions they make are the decisions they make, but yea, I expected to be here."
Here's Harrington's full media availability from today:
Harrington made his first start of the spring Tuesday afternoon at LECOM Park in the Pirates' 3-2 walk-off win over the Phillies. He threw 3 2/3 innings, struck out three and walked one, but also made one big mistake.
The 23-year-old left a first-pitch slider over the middle of the plate for Nick Castellanos who sent it to the boardwalk in left field. However, it was the only hit that Harrington gave up as he threw 38 of his 62 pitches for strikes.
"The ability to execute pitches. He threw all four of 'em, he mixed and matched. They ran out a good lineup and they ran out a bunch of left-handers," Derek Shelton said. "He did a nice job executing. He left a breaking ball in the zone to Castellanos, which he's made a living off of hitting the breaking ball in the zone. But other than that, he attacked. He went off the barrel when he had to. He went strike to ball when he had to."
Harrington has worked on the back fields to build up his volume and has thrown a few simulated games at Pirate City this spring. Today was his longest outing after throwing one inning against the Braves on Feb. 25 and two against the Orioles on March 1. He's only allowed three total hits and has recorded three strikeouts.
He's made a strong impression on the staff as the roster starts to slim down ahead of opening day. Shelton isn't fully committed to Harrington making the opening day roster, but it seems like he could have an impact sometime this season.
"I think that's something we'll decide over the next week or so," Shelton said about Harrington's chances to travel with the team to Miami. "But I think with the camp he's had, he's put himself, whether [or] not [it's] opening day, but he's put himself on the radar in terms of helping us this year."
Harrington provides an intriguing option compared to the rest of the Pirates' top pitching prospects. He's not a flamethrower like Chandler and he doesn't have sharp breaking stuff like Ashcraft, he's his own pitcher. He manipulates his pitch grips consistently to get different shapes, he tunnels pitches well and he controls the strike zone at a high level while changing speeds.
That pitching approach could mix well with a starting rotation that may eventually include Paul Skenes, Jones and Chandler, all who have the ability to climb into the high 90s with their fastballs.
Harrington admitted that he thought he didn't have his best stuff today. He said he felt like he was trying to get through the lineup with just two pitches as he threw his fastball (20), sinker (15) and changeup (12). He also mixed in a slider (7), cutter (4) and curveball (4), according to Baseball Savant.
"It was definitely good to get out there and compete and start a game, "Harrington said. "It was awesome, I definitely didn’t have all of my stuff so I was trying to navigate through the order with what felt like two pitches, but we got it done."
With five Grapefruit League games remaining, we could see Harrington again at some point this season. He's done his job of making an impression and stating his case for a spot on with the major-league club. If it doesn't happen right away, it seems as though he'll be taking the mound at PNC Park at some point this season.
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
8:37 pm - 03.18.2025Bradenton, Fla.Harrington fulfilling self-expectations
Thomas Harrington is locker mates with Jared Jones in the clubhouse at LECOM Park. The two are often found hanging out, talking ball and sharing stories. While they don't share the same demeanor, the two right-handers have shared the same path.
A year ago, it was Jones who was the non-roster invite trying to work his way onto the Pirates' opening day roster and now, as the team inches closer to its first game against the Marlins on March 27 at LoanDepot Park, Harrington is trying to do the same thing.
While some of the organization’s best pitching prospects, including Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft, have been reassigned to minor league camp, Harrington remains with the big league club. Some might not have expected him to be here, but he wouldn't include himself in that group.
"I definitely believed I could (make the big league club), so I expected to be here," Harrington said. "Obviously, whatever decisions they make are the decisions they make, but yea, I expected to be here."
Here's Harrington's full media availability from today:
Harrington made his first start of the spring Tuesday afternoon at LECOM Park in the Pirates' 3-2 walk-off win over the Phillies. He threw 3 2/3 innings, struck out three and walked one, but also made one big mistake.
The 23-year-old left a first-pitch slider over the middle of the plate for Nick Castellanos who sent it to the boardwalk in left field. However, it was the only hit that Harrington gave up as he threw 38 of his 62 pitches for strikes.
"The ability to execute pitches. He threw all four of 'em, he mixed and matched. They ran out a good lineup and they ran out a bunch of left-handers," Derek Shelton said. "He did a nice job executing. He left a breaking ball in the zone to Castellanos, which he's made a living off of hitting the breaking ball in the zone. But other than that, he attacked. He went off the barrel when he had to. He went strike to ball when he had to."
Harrington has worked on the back fields to build up his volume and has thrown a few simulated games at Pirate City this spring. Today was his longest outing after throwing one inning against the Braves on Feb. 25 and two against the Orioles on March 1. He's only allowed three total hits and has recorded three strikeouts.
He's made a strong impression on the staff as the roster starts to slim down ahead of opening day. Shelton isn't fully committed to Harrington making the opening day roster, but it seems like he could have an impact sometime this season.
"I think that's something we'll decide over the next week or so," Shelton said about Harrington's chances to travel with the team to Miami. "But I think with the camp he's had, he's put himself, whether [or] not [it's] opening day, but he's put himself on the radar in terms of helping us this year."
Harrington provides an intriguing option compared to the rest of the Pirates' top pitching prospects. He's not a flamethrower like Chandler and he doesn't have sharp breaking stuff like Ashcraft, he's his own pitcher. He manipulates his pitch grips consistently to get different shapes, he tunnels pitches well and he controls the strike zone at a high level while changing speeds.
That pitching approach could mix well with a starting rotation that may eventually include Paul Skenes, Jones and Chandler, all who have the ability to climb into the high 90s with their fastballs.
Harrington admitted that he thought he didn't have his best stuff today. He said he felt like he was trying to get through the lineup with just two pitches as he threw his fastball (20), sinker (15) and changeup (12). He also mixed in a slider (7), cutter (4) and curveball (4), according to Baseball Savant.
"It was definitely good to get out there and compete and start a game, "Harrington said. "It was awesome, I definitely didn’t have all of my stuff so I was trying to navigate through the order with what felt like two pitches, but we got it done."
With five Grapefruit League games remaining, we could see Harrington again at some point this season. He's done his job of making an impression and stating his case for a spot on with the major-league club. If it doesn't happen right away, it seems as though he'll be taking the mound at PNC Park at some point this season.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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