Pirates' Rising Star Thomas Harrington Lands on Injured List Again!
Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Thomas Harrington heads to the 7-day injured list after his recent performance amid recovery efforts.
Pirates' Rising Star Thomas Harrington Lands on Injured List Again!
The Pittsburgh Pirates have recently encountered yet another setback with their pitching prospect Thomas Harrington, who has been placed on the 7-day injured list as of August 29. This decision comes in light of Harrington’s performance during his last start on August 28 against the Buffalo Bisons, where he managed to throw one scoreless inning with a strikeout over just 14 pitches. Exciting stuff, but it’s clear the young pitcher has had a rocky road.
What adds to this narrative is that this outing was Harrington’s first since August 10, following a groin strain that had him sidelined for nearly three weeks. According to SI.com, the Pirates‘ senior director of sports medicine, Todd Tomczyk, mentioned that Harrington had resumed light throwing after sustaining the injury, showing he was eager to get back on the mound.
The Road to Recovery
Despite his short outing this week, Harrington’s career has shown promise. He made his MLB debut on April 1 against the Tampa Bay Rays, but it left much to be desired, as he allowed seven hits and six earned runs in four innings. Conversely, his second appearance on April 7 against the St. Louis Cardinals was more uplifting, earning him a four-inning save—the first for a Pirates pitcher since 1998. After a brief spell back at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he remained for nearly four months, he was recalled on August 1.
Harrington’s performance has been a mixed bag so far. His record at Triple-A in 2025 shows him starting 20 out of 21 games, with a less-than-ideal record of 7-9 and a 5.34 ERA. He struck out 90 batters in 96 innings while holding opposing batters to a .251 average, a reminder that he has potential yet to be fully unlocked.
From High School to the Majors
It’s interesting to reflect on Harrington’s journey. A product of Southern Lee High School in Sanford, N.C., he graduated in 2020 with an impressive high school record—4-0 and a minuscule 0.32 ERA over 43.2 innings. He played an essential role in leading his team to three consecutive championships from 2017 to 2019. Yet, there’s more to the story than just baseball. Harrington also excelled in football, showcasing a diverse skill set.
His collegiate career at Campbell University was stellar as well, boasting a 12-2 record with a 2.53 ERA across 92.2 innings, along with earning honors like Big South Pitcher of the Year in 2022. He truly stood out, recording a career ERA of 2.94, which ranks among the best in the program’s history. His talents didn’t go unnoticed; he was drafted by the Pirates in 2022 with the No. 36 overall pick, receiving a hefty signing bonus of $2,050,000.
Future Prospects
Fast forward to his stats from this season, Harrington has shown flashes of dominance since being promoted to the Triple-A level. He went 3-1 with a 3.81 ERA in August, proving that when healthy, he can be a considerable asset for the team. His latest outings included a seven-scoreless innings performance, and he nabbed the International League Pitcher-of-the-Week title recently.
While woes with injuries continue to cast a shadow over Harrington’s promising career, his potential remains bright. The Pirates‘ fans have their fingers crossed for a speedy recovery as he aims to return to form. After all, good things come to those who wait, and perhaps Harrington will be back on the mound sooner rather than later, ready to take on the Major Leagues with full force once again.