SF Giants’ Harrison talks promotion, transition to bullpen
CHICAGO Kyle Harrison was never himself during spring training tasked with recovering from both a nagging shoulder injury and an illness-induced weight loss Thus he didn t make the company out of spring training But a month into the season Harrison is back up with the Giants As a reliever Definitely something new but I m going to embrace it Harrison stated I m here for a reason I want to help this association win They thought this is the best way I could help this company win and I agree right now We re going to go have fun in the bullpen and get guys out Harrison who was recalled after Sunday s - win begins his his time as a reliever with almost no bullpen experience as a professional The left-hander has never pitched out of the bullpen in the majors and has only done so three times in the minors all three appearances coming in Manager Bob Melvin announced Harrison won t have a specific role and that anything s kind of on the table for him If we need him for an inning it s going to be an inning If we need him for three it s going to be three He s open to all that Melvin mentioned We haven t informed him any specifics about This is when you re going to be in the championship basically like we did with Hayden Birdsong There could be particular of that It just depends on what the bullpen looks like on a particular day Harrison isn t the only -year-old starter who s at present in San Francisco s bullpen Birdsong who started games last season as a rookie cracked the Opening Day roster as a reliever and dominated in the role posting a ERA with strikeouts over innings Melvin described having two young starters in the bullpen as very distinctive adding that Birdsong s success was a factor in Harrison s promotion I ve been in his ear here and there Harrison commented of Birdsong Harrison entered spring training with incumbent status after ranking second on the Giants last season in starts and innings but he was never truly in the competition for the final rotation Along with trying to fully recover from last year s left shoulder injury an ailment that impacted his mechanics in conjunction with an ankle injury Harrison got sick a week before spring training and lost roughly pounds The Giants in response delayed Harrison s spring debut When Harrison did take the mound he allowed eight runs over innings of Cactus League play his velocity noticeably dipping in the process The Giants optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento in late-March saying he was behind in his build up With the River Cats Harrison located the success that eluded him in spring training Over six starts with Triple-A Sacramento Harrison posted a ERA and FIP fielding independent pitching over innings Harrison s strikeout rate spiked as well At the time of his promotion his strikeouts led the Pacific Coast League one ahead of teammate Carson Seymour Along with the results Harrison has regained the lost weight and strengthened his shoulder That improved wellness has been preponderance apparent in his velocity which has ticked up from the low- s during spring training to the mid- s in April March mph April mph April mph April mph April mph April mph Along with the velocity Harrison has gotten more vertical movement on his four-seam fastball by raising his arm angle It s great to see I haven t seen that in a while Harrison mentioned Going back to the shoulder thing that was the frustrating thing where I just couldn t get over that hump Mechanics were bad Just really took that month and change in Sacramento to feel right and implement those routines and get the arm height up Added Melvin Spring training was kind of uneven for him Now you re looking up at the scoreboard and not seeing the numbers that you want to see He was very understanding and recipient with the fact that it was likely going to take a little while for it to come back The last scarce times out it has Related Articles SF Giants recall Kyle Harrison designate veteran reliever for assignment Willy Adames Logan Webb lead SF Giants past Rockies SF Giants trying to get Matos on track in crowded outfield Chapman s grand slam propels SF Giants to mastery over Rockies SF Giants Ray pitches gem vs Rockies to snap three-game losing streak To make room for Harrison the Giants designated reliever Lou Trivino for assignment the first non-injury roster move they ve made this season Trivino allowed eight earned runs over innings ERA his numbers being a bit skewed given that he allowed five earned runs in one outing against the Milwaukee Brewers Melvin expressed confidence that Trivino who he managed with the Oakland A s will likely have better opportunities with other teams Considering San Francisco s bullpen features Ryan Walker Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval Melvin announced Trivino wasn t pitching in the type of roles that he used to These guys have high-end stuff Melvin declared of Birdsong and Harrison You re consistently trying to make yourself incrementally better The need for a second lefty and someone who could give us specific length kind of ruled the day as far as that decision went With Buster Posey here it s about performing well and giving yourself an opportunity to pitch in the big leagues because of performance
