Kyle Harrison Is One of the Top Pitching Prospects in the Game

Kyle Harrison is likely one of the prime pitching prospects in baseball. Drafted eighty fifth general in 2020 out of Harmony, California’s De La Salle Excessive Faculty, the just-turned-21-year-old left-hander is No. 30 on our updated Top 100. Ranked ninth amongst hurlers, Harrison has dominated at two ranges. Presently with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, he’s fanned 143 batters and allowed simply 57 hits in 86-and-a-third innings this season. In a phrase, the younger southpaw has been overpowering.

Harrison mentioned his repertoire when Richmond performed in Portland over the weekend.

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David Laurila: To begin, give me a self-scouting report.

Kyle Harrison: “My fastball averages round 94 [mph]. I spin it decently — not too excessive — nevertheless it’s from a low method angle, so I believe it seems just like the ball has a bit of little bit of rise. Then I’ll go to my slider. I’ll sort of grip that off the four-seam and actually simply attempt to rip it on the backside of the zone. It’s a bit of extra sweepy-ish than a daily slider. I’m making an attempt to make it more durable. I’m in a position to get it to 85 generally — that’s sort of the place I would like it to be — however these are the max-effort ones. It’s often extra 80-83.

“The changeup I’m taking part in round with now’s a brand new grip. I’m sort of splitting the 2 seams there. It’s extra of a one-seam, so I can get a bit of bit extra tumble. I’ve been throwing it more durable than I’d like. I’m making an attempt to take a bit of velo off to get some higher pace differential.”

Laurila: Various pitchers throw one-seam sinkers, however I’m admittedly not too conversant in one-seam changeups.

Harrison: “Yeah, positively. From my slot — I’m a bit of three-quarters — it’s laborious for me to actually keep on prime of a changeup. I really feel like simply getting that seam, and splitting that different finger, actually permits me to drag down on the ball. It permits me to get it down within the zone, quite than having the rise and life that I get from that slot.”

Laurila: I assume it’s your center finger on the seam?

Harrison: “Sure. After which I’m splitting it right here, and actually simply making an attempt to pronate with it.”

Laurila: The finger cut up you’re displaying me is much like a Vulcan, however you’re not really gripping and throwing the pitch like a Vulcan.

Harrison: “Proper. It’s extra like a variant of that. I sort of discovered it by means of trial and error. It’s a really feel factor. Earlier within the season I used to be doing a four-seam changeup grip, and I’d lose it so much on the arm aspect. This enables me to remain down on it.”

Laurila: Was the grip a suggestion, or did you give you it by yourself?

Harrison: “It was advised, however for essentially the most half it was me wanting to change it up as a result of I used to be getting an excessive amount of life with it.”

Laurila: Who made the suggestion?

Harrison: “Paul Oseguera, our pitching coach right here, talked about that I might get greater up on the seam and cut up it a bit of bit. We have been speaking after one in every of my outings and I advised him that I wasn’t too comfy with my changeup grip. We tried this one and threw some in entrance of a TrackMan. It killed lots of vert, really — a pair inches of vertical. It’s cool to have the ability to see that on a TrackMan, to throw a pitch and see simply the way it strikes.”

Laurila: If you say “kill vert,” you imply that you simply’re getting extra depth?

Harrison: “Sure, and a bit of extra horizontal as nicely. It’s the one pitch I’m actually engaged on now. I’m looking for that consistency with it.”

Laurila: What’s the story behind your sweepy slider?

Harrison: “That’s sort of at all times been with me. It’s at all times been the form of my slider, and as soon as I obtained into professional ball and began to throw more durable, it obtained much more sweepy. It’s actually simply my arm slot and the way I’m sort of holding it on the aspect. Principally, I’m coming throughout and ripping it with a agency wrist.”

Laurila: Are you manipulating it in any respect?

Harrison: “Actually, I’m simply throwing it and letting it do its factor. I’m simply choosing the spots to begin it, realizing that it’s in all probability going to get a superb quantity of horizontal. I’m getting anyplace from 15 to twenty [inches].”

Laurila: And what about your fastball? You talked about method angle.

Harrison: “I believe that’s the important thing to my fastball. It’s the discharge peak and method angle. You don’t see guys coming from the place I do on a regular basis. I believe with the ability to get low in my legs actually helps out. That’s at all times been the best way I’ve thrown a baseball. Yeah, it’s sort of a bizarre factor. I’ve by no means actually tweaked it a lot. I simply throw that manner.”

Laurila: When did you be taught why it was an efficient pitch for you?

Harrison: “I’d say that it was final yr, my first [pitching] in professional ball. I used to be getting swings and misses, and clearly the information and analytics have been good. As soon as that began taking place, I used to be like, ‘Oh, I’ve obtained a superb pitch. Let’s roll with it and see what else we’ve obtained.’”