Fremont Native Debuts in MLB
Fremont's own Thomas Harrington, a former Washington High School athlete, made his Major League Baseball debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He recently pitched in his first game for the team.
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected right-handed pitcher Thomas Harrington with the 36th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. He signed with the team for a $2,050,000 bonus. His journey to the major leagues included a stop at Double-A Altoona, where he posted a 2.24 ERA with 74 strikeouts over 68 1/3 innings in 2024. Before turning pro, Harrington was a standout player for Campbell University in North Carolina. As a sophomore, he was named the Big South Pitcher of the Year and was a first-team All-American. That season, he led all NCAA pitchers with 12 wins, setting a new school record. Harrington's path to becoming a high draft pick was a rapid ascent. He joined the Campbell baseball team as a walk-on after a successful high school career at Southern Lee High School in Sanford, North Carolina, where he also played quarterback. He was not offered a scholarship by any Division I programs out of high school. In his 2023 professional debut season, Harrington split his time between Single-A Bradenton and High-A Greensboro, accumulating a combined 3.53 ERA with 146 strikeouts across 127.1 innings pitched. He continued to progress through the Pirates' system, earning accolades such as South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week. The right-hander's 2024 season was briefly interrupted by a rotator cuff strain, which caused him to miss the first five weeks of the campaign. In his MLB debut on April 1, 2025, against the Tampa Bay Rays, Harrington pitched four innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and four walks while recording two strikeouts. The four walks were the most he had ever issued in a single professional game. Harrington is considered a top prospect within the Pirates organization. His arsenal includes a fastball that can reach up to 96 mph, a slider, and a changeup.
