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Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Headed back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Pirates optioned Harrington to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.
Harrington was one of eight players dismissed from big-league camp in the Pirates' latest round of roster cuts. The 24-year-old righty parlayed a strong showing last spring into a spot in the Pirates' season-opening rotation, but he made just one start and one extended relief appearance before he was sent back to the minors. He went on to make another long-relief appearance for Pittsburgh in early August, but he struggled across all three of his big-league outings and didn't fare much better over more extended action at Triple-A (5.34 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 96 innings). Harrington remains an interesting prospect, but he's since been passed up on the organizational depth chart by a trio of young arms (Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft and Hunter Barco) and may not be in store for another look in the big-league rotation anytime soon.
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Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Works four scoreless innings
Rotowire
Harrington allowed two hits and one walk while striking out two across four scoreless innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.
This marked Harrington's second appearance of the spring, and he worked efficiently while ramping up to 44 pitches. He put 29 of those in the strike zone, while punching out Riley Greene and Colt Keith. Harrington has now allowed one earned run across six innings while striking out two and walking three this spring. He has an outside chance to earn a rotation role to begin the season, but he will more likely begin the campaign at Triple-A Indianapolis.
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Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Looks healthy for spring
Rotowire
Harrington (groin) tossed a bullpen session Sunday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Harrington didn't pitch after Aug. 28 last season after aggravating a right groin injury, but the 24-year-old righty had a healthy offseason and is good to go for spring training. He reached the majors for the first time in 2025 but labored over his three appearances (one start) for the Pirates, giving up 15 earned runs on 18 hits and seven walks across 8.2 innings. Harrington will compete for an Opening Day rotation spot in spring training, but he's likely to begin the season at Triple-A Indianapolis.
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Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Battles groin injury down stretch
Rotowire
Harrington missed the final few weeks of the season for Triple-A Indianapolis due to a right groin injury, Dominic Campbell of SI.com reports.
It's the same injury that caused Harrington to go on the 7-day injured list Aug. 10, as he threw one inning Aug. 28 and aggravated the injury and had to exit the start early before being shut down for the season. Harrington, who was in the mix for a rotation spot during spring training, had poor overall results in the majors (15 earned runs in 8.2 innings) and minors (5.34 ERA at Triple-A) while tallying 104.2 total frames across the two levels. He shouldn't have any restrictions in spring training but will face an uphill battle in camp to make the big-league roster.
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Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Goes back on IL
Rotowire
Triple-A Indianapolis placed Harrington on its 7-day injured list Friday due to an unspecified injury.
Indianapolis had previously shelved Harrington on Aug. 10 due to an unspecified injury, and though he was activated Thursday, he made it through just one inning during his start against Buffalo before landing back on the IL a day later. The Pirates haven't shed light on the nature of Harrington's latest setback, but given the timing of the injury, the right-hander could be hard-pressed to pitch again in 2025.
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Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Shelved at Triple-A
Rotowire
Triple-A Indianapolis placed Harrington on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to an undisclosed injury.
After being demoted Aug. 2, Harrington rejoined the Indianapolis rotation Friday and apparently sustained an injury during that start. The right-hander possesses a spot on the Pirates' 40-man roster, but his injury coupled with his poor numbers at the Triple-A level this season (5.40 ERA, 1.33 WHIP in 95 innings) could hinder his chances of getting another look in the big-league rotation in 2025.
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Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Sent back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Pirates optioned Harrington to Triple-A Indianapolis following Friday's game against the Rockies.
Harrington was called up Friday to give the Pirates depth out of the bullpen, but he was rocked for six runs on seven hits and two walks in just two-thirds of an inning. His spot on the 26-man roster will be filled by Dauri Moreta, who was recalled by the Pirates on Saturday.
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Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Joining Pirates
Rotowire
The Pirates recalled Harrington from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
Harrington has surrendered nine earned runs in only eight MLB innings this season, and he carries a 5.48 ERA through 90.1 frames in Triple-A. Despite his performance, he'll be awarded a spot on the Pirates' pitching staff after Pittsburgh traded away David Bednar, Bailey Falter and Taylor Rogers on Thursday.
Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Heading back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Pirates optioned Harrington to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Called up from Triple-A on April 1 when the Pirates temporarily expanded to a six-man rotation, Harrington was lit up for six earned runs over four innings while taking a loss in his MLB debut against the Rays. He shifted back to the bullpen following that start and piggybacked Carmen Mlodzinski in Monday's win over the Cardinals, earning a four-inning save while allowing three earned runs. The Pirates still envision Harrington filling a starting role in the long term, so he'll head back to Indianapolis and will presumably re-enter the Triple-A club's rotation this weekend. He could be back with the Pirates in short order, however, as Pittsburgh will begin a stretch of 10 games in 10 days Friday and could bring Harrington aboard for a spot start during that stretch to keep ace Paul Skenes on a five-day rest schedule between starts.
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Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Earns lengthy save Monday
Rotowire
Harrington allowed three runs on four hits and one walk over four innings in Monday's 8-4 win over St. Louis. He struck out five and earned his first MLB save.
After making a four-inning start in his MLB debut last Tuesday against the Royals, Harrington shifted to the bullpen but ended up piggybacking starter Carmen Mlodzinski, who covered five innings before the rookie right-handed finished out the game. Harrington entered with a 4-1 lead and earned the save in the Pirates' four-run win, despite a shaky performance. Harrington has now given up nine earned runs and holds a 7:5 K:BB through eight innings, so he hasn't made a strong case for a more permanent spot in the Pittsburgh rotation just yet. That said, the Pirates have been committed to building in at least five days of rest between starts for Paul Skenes, so Pittsburgh could move back to a six-man rotation that includes Harrington on Friday, when the team begins a stretch of 10 games in as many days.
Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Potential to piggyback Monday
Rotowire
Harrington could piggyback Carmen Mlodzinski during Monday's game against the Cardinals, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Harrington has remained on the Pirates' active roster since his ill-fated major-league debut last Tuesday against the Rays, but the team hasn't revealed concrete plans for his usage. It would make sense for him to follow Mlodzinski on Monday, as Mlodzinski still isn't fully stretched out to start after spending most of the last two seasons as a reliever. Harrington yielded six runs over four innings last week versus the Rays.
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Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Struggles in debut
Rotowire
Harrington (0-1) allowed six runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out two in four innings in a loss to the Rays on Tuesday.
Harrington had some early command issues in allowing three hits and two walks, which led to three runs for the Rays in the opening frame. Another two runs scored off the bat of Brandon Lowe in the fourth inning before Harrington's day came to a close at 90 pitches. The nerves in his debut were certainly visible for the 24-year-old righty, and it's unclear whether his next start will come at the major-league level or back at Triple-A Indianapolis.
Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Contract selected for MLB debut
Rotowire
The Pirates selected Harrington's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis ahead of his scheduled start against the Rays on Tuesday.
The right-hander will make his MLB debut in Tampa Bay, with closer David Bednar being sent to Triple-A to free up space on the big-league roster. Harrington just missed out on being included in Pittsburgh's season-opening rotation, but he'll still end up making his first start of 2025 in the majors. The 23-year-old split most of 2024 between Double-A Altoona and Indianapolis, and he finished the year with a 2.61 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 115:19 K:BB across 117.1 innings. Harrington may need to deliver a strong debut in order to receive additional turns through the rotation.
Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Set to make MLB debut Tuesday
Rotowire
The Pirates will call up Harrington to make his major-league debut Tuesday against the Rays, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Harrington was beat out by Carmen Mlodzinski for the final spot in the Pirates' rotation, but his first start this season will wind up coming in the big leagues. The 23-year-old collected a 2.61 ERA and 115:19 K:BB over 117.1 innings across three levels in the minors last season. Harrington is known more for his command and control than his ability to miss bats, but he did show a little velocity uptick this spring. It might be just a spot start for the young righty, but if he impresses it's possible he'll be kept in the rotation over Mlodzinski.
