2022 Pre-Season SF Giants Top Prospects: 1-5

2022 Pre-Season SF Giants Top Prospects: 1-5

1. Kyle Harrison

Position: LHP
Age: 20
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200 lbs.
Projected Level: Eugene (High-A)
MLB ETA: 2024

Tool Grades: (Present/Future)

FB 60/70 | SL 55/60 | CH 40/50 | CMD 40/50

PV 30 | FV 55

San Francisco paid Kyle Harrison premium money to sign him away from his UCLA commitment when they drafted him in the third round last year. After the 2021 season, it is looking more like a steal rather than a bargain as Harrison broke out big time where he led the Low-A West in ERA and his performance in the final two months of the season was as best as anyone in all the Minor Leagues.

Harrison bulked up 20 pounds last off-season, refined his mechanics, and came into this season looking like a completely different pitcher compared to his amateur days. His 88-92 MPH fastball now sits in the 93-98 MPH range while retaining the same tailing life that he had before. He induced plenty of whiffs with the pitch, particularly in the upper third of the zone and above, because of the combination of the sheer velocity, intense movement, and a flatter vertical approach angle from his low-¾ arm slot.

His slider developed from a slurvy pitch early in the season to a tighter and better pitch at the start of August that coincided with his second-half dominance. Even though the changeup was sparingly thrown early in the season, Harrison grew more confident throwing the pitch and was a solid third offering.

Heading into the 2022 season, Harrison has all the ingredients of a potential frontline starter in the big leagues. He has the strong frame built for innings, has the athleticism to repeat his dynamic and deceptive mechanics, has two potential plus pitches with a solid complimentary third pitch, has a competitive mentality on the mound, and flashes the IQ to make a batter off-balanced.

There are still things to work on like refining his command, improving the quality of his changeup, and improving his efficiency to go deeper into games, but Harrison has as high of a ceiling as anyone in all of baseball and he is the best pitching prospect in the organization since Zack Wheeler.