Kyle Harrison continues to settle into Triple-A life with the Worcester WooSox, and yesterday’s outing against the Iowa Cubs was his strongest appearance to date in a WooSox uniform. Acquired as part of the Rafael Devers trade, Harrison came into the game with a 3.96 ERA over 36 innings and solid strikeout chops, and on this day, he delivered five innings of one-hit, scoreless baseball. He struck out eight while issuing four walks, working his secondary pitches effectively and keeping Cubs hitters off balance for long stretches.
Control has been Harrison’s sticking point this season; he’s averaged a high walk rate, but this start showed what he can do when his command lines up. Worcester ultimately lost 1–0, a tough result given Harrison’s quality, but the outing should reassure the staff that he can give them length in high-leverage spots.
From a developmental angle, Harrison’s growth will hinge on trimming free passes without sacrificing his stuff. For now, Worcester can take heart: Harrison’s best start in a WooSox jersey suggests the ceiling is high when the control clicks.
