Date: 04/08/12
Matt Harrison turned in a good start Sunday against a listless White Sox lineup, striking out three and walking two in six shutout innings.
Photo Courtesy of Keith Allison via Flikr.com
His fastball sat in the 89 to 93 MPH range, touching as high as 95 on several occasions early in the game. It’s a straight pitch and he struggled with his command at times, often missing up and on the plate, particularly on the onset.
He showed a solid-average straight changeup with good arm speed that sat in the low 80s, which he continually threw to the left side of the plate, even against left-handers. Adam Dunn struck out in the first inning on an 82 MPH inside-changeup and he would consistently go back to that spot the rest of the game.
His slider is tightly spun and sat in the mid-80s with decent movement and is an average offering. And his curveball was below-average and “slurvy.”
Despite a solid repertoire – including an above-average fastball – Harrison has never missed a lot of bats through his entire professional career. In almost 650 minor league innings he averaged 6.4 K/9 and exactly one strikeout less during his four-year big league career.
As a solid number three or four starter, he’s probably reached his peak already; unless, of course, he somehow begins to miss more bats.
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