Fremont Native Debuts for Pittsburgh Pirates
Fremont-born pitcher Thomas Harrington made his debut in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates. His promotion to the major leagues marks a significant career milestone and has been a source of pride for his hometown community.
While the news of his debut brings pride to the Fremont community, Thomas Harrington's journey to the major leagues began in Sanford, North Carolina. He attended Southern Lee High School where he was also the starting quarterback for the football team. Harrington's path to professional baseball was not one of early stardom; he received no Division I scholarship offers out of high school. He joined Campbell University's baseball team as a walk-on, a decision that would ultimately reshape his career. At Campbell, Harrington blossomed, earning Big South Freshman of the Year in 2021 and being named the conference's Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore. His collegiate success culminated in being a semifinalist for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award in 2022. His performance captured the attention of Major League Baseball, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to select him 36th overall in the 2022 draft. Harrington agreed to terms with the team, signing for a bonus of $2,050,000. Harrington's progression through the Pirates' minor league system included a stint in 2023 where he was tied for the organizational lead in strikeouts. He overcame a rotator cuff strain in 2024 to continue his development across Double-A and Triple-A. His official Major League Baseball debut took place on April 1, 2025, in a start against the Tampa Bay Rays. In a challenging first outing, Harrington pitched into the fourth inning, recording two strikeouts while allowing six earned runs, seven hits, and four walks.
