Fremont Native Debuts for Pirates
Fremont native Thomas Harrington has made his debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The milestone for the baseball player has sparked celebrations in his local community.
Thomas Harrington, a native of Sanford, North Carolina, was the 36th overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft, signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates for a $2,050,000 bonus. His selection followed a standout sophomore season at Campbell University where he was named the Big South Pitcher of the Year. Before turning pro, Harrington built an impressive collegiate resume as a walk-on at Campbell. In 2022, he led the nation with 12 wins, set a program record with 111 strikeouts, and was a unanimous All-American. He finished his Campbell career with a 2.94 ERA, the fourth-best in program history for pitchers with at least 100 innings. The right-handed pitcher made his professional debut in 2023, splitting his time between the Single-A Bradenton Marauders and the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers. Across 26 starts, he posted a 3.53 ERA with 146 strikeouts in 127.1 innings pitched. Harrington's much-anticipated Major League debut took place on April 1, 2025, in a start against the Tampa Bay Rays. The debut proved to be a challenging outing, as he allowed six runs on seven hits and four walks over four innings, taking the loss.
