Giants, 3rd-rounder Harrison strike deal
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SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants rounded out their 2020 Draft class on Thursday by signing third-round pick Kyle Harrison. The deal is worth $2.5 million, according to MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis.
The bonus was more than three times the recommended slot value for the No. 85 pick ($710,700), as the Giants needed to sweeten the pot to convince Harrison to forgo his commitment to UCLA.
The Giants previously announced deals with their six other Draft picks: North Carolina State catcher Patrick Bailey, San Diego State third baseman Casey Schmitt, North Carolina State left-hander Nick Swiney, Dallas Baptist shortstop Jimmy Glowenke, Arizona State right-hander R.J. Dabovich and Le Moyne right-hander Ryan Murphy. All but Swiney signed below-slot deals, giving the Giants the ability to direct more of their bonus pool toward Harrison.
A left-handed pitcher out of De La Salle High School in nearby Concord, Calif., Harrison went 21-1 with a 1.19 ERA and 192 strikeouts over his prep career.
• Giants Draft Tracker: Every 2020 pick
Listed at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Harrison throws from a three-quarter arm slot and features a three-pitch mix that includes a fastball that has reached 93 mph, a slider and a changeup. The 18-year-old was ranked the top healthy prep lefty in the 2020 Draft class and emerged as a key starter for Team USA in the U-18 Baseball World Cup last summer, striking out 12 over 10 scoreless innings.
“We've really seen his development over the last eight to 10 months,” amateur scouting director Michael Holmes said last month. “We've seen his velocity improve. We've seen his breaking ball improve. He's always been able to command the baseball to both sides of the plate. It's more of a three-quarter to lower-three-quarter slot with a little bit of a crossbody look, so it's a very deceptive delivery. Hitters have a tough time seeing the baseball. But this kid is a smart kid on the mound. He's got tremendous feel. He's got good stuff. He definitely is a really competitive kid that we got a chance to know really well.”