Matt Harrison
Encyclopedia
Matthew Reid Harrison is a Major League Baseball
left-handed starting pitcher
for the Texas Rangers
.
in Creedmoor, North Carolina
. He had signed a letter of intent
to play baseball at North Carolina State University
, but was drafted by the Atlanta Braves
in the third round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft
and subsequently signed a professional contract.
's Gulf Coast Braves in . He played in with the Danville Braves
of the Appalachian League
and in with the Rome Braves
of the Single-A South Atlantic League
. saw Harrison split time between the Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
of the Carolina League
and the Double-A Mississippi Braves
of the Southern League
. He was named the Braves' Minor League Player of the Year, the Pelicans' Pitcher of the Year and was a Carolina League All-Star that season.
Entering , Harrison was rated by Baseball America
as the third-best prospect in the Braves organization and the seventh-best prospect in the Carolina League. He began 2007 with Double-A Mississippi, starting 20 games for the team, compiling a 5–9 record with a 3.39 ERA and 78 strikeout
s. On July 30, 2007, Harrison, along with catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia
, minor league pitchers Neftali Feliz and Beau Jones, and shortstop prospect Elvis Andrus
, were traded by the Braves to the Texas Rangers for Mark Teixeira
and Ron Mahay
.
during the 2007 Arizona Fall League
season, where he accounted for a perfect 5–0 record.
At the start of the season, Harrison was assigned to the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders
of the Texas League
. On May 18, he threw a no-hitter
against the San Antonio Missions
, only the second no-hitter in RoughRiders' history. After only nine appearances with Frisco, Harrison earned a promotion to the Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks in June. While in Oklahoma, he went 3–1, with a 3.55 ERA
in six appearances.
As the middle of the season wore on, the Rangers pitching staff suffered a number of injuries, forcing the club to call up Harrison from Frisco on July 8. He made his major league debut with the Rangers that day, beating the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
, 3–2, outdueling All-Star
pitcher
Joe Saunders
in the process. On September 12, Harrison threw a complete game shutout in a 7–0 road victory against the Oakland Athletics
. This was the first shutout by a Rangers rookie left-hander in two decades. Harrison—one of 12 Rangers rookies to make their major league debuts in 2008—finished out the season in the majors, ending up with a 9–3 record and a 5.49 ERA.
In 2010, he was 3–2 with a 4.71 ERA, pitching in 37 games (6 of which he started).
2011 was Harrison's best season as a Major Leaguer, he was 14–9, with a 3.39 ERA. Some of the many big moments for him in 2011 were;
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
left-handed starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
.
Baseball career
Harrison attended South Granville High SchoolSouth Granville High School
South Granville High is a high school in Creedmoor, North Carolina, and is part of the Granville County School System. It also contains South Granville High School of Health and Life Sciences.-History:...
in Creedmoor, North Carolina
Creedmoor, North Carolina
Creedmoor is a city in Granville County, North Carolina, United States . The population was 4,124 at the 2010 census.-Brief History of the Town:...
. He had signed a letter of intent
Letter of intent
A letter of intent is a document outlining an agreement between two or more parties before the agreement is finalized. The concept is similar to a heads of agreement...
to play baseball at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
, but was drafted by the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in the third round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft
2003 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2003 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 3 and 4. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.Source: -First round selections:...
and subsequently signed a professional contract.
Atlanta Braves minor leaguer
Harrison made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast LeagueGulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
's Gulf Coast Braves in . He played in with the Danville Braves
Danville Braves
The Danville Braves are a minor league baseball team in Danville, Virginia, USA. They are an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League and have been a farm team of the Atlanta Braves since 1993. The Braves play home games at American Legion Post 325 Field...
of the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
and in with the Rome Braves
Rome Braves
The Rome Braves are a Class-A minor league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. In 2003, the team, previously known as the Macon Braves, moved from Macon, Georgia, to Rome, Georgia, 60 miles northwest of Atlanta....
of the Single-A South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
. saw Harrison split time between the Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a minor league baseball team in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They are a Class A Advanced team in the Carolina League and the franchise is currently the farm team of the Texas Rangers. From their inaugural season until 2010, the Pelicans were an affiliate of the...
of the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
and the Double-A Mississippi Braves
Mississippi Braves
The Mississippi Braves, or M-Braves as they are referred to locally, are a minor league baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, a suburb of Jackson. The team is the Class AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, and plays in the Southern League. The team is owned and operated by Liberty Media, which...
of the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
. He was named the Braves' Minor League Player of the Year, the Pelicans' Pitcher of the Year and was a Carolina League All-Star that season.
Entering , Harrison was rated by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
as the third-best prospect in the Braves organization and the seventh-best prospect in the Carolina League. He began 2007 with Double-A Mississippi, starting 20 games for the team, compiling a 5–9 record with a 3.39 ERA and 78 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s. On July 30, 2007, Harrison, along with catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Jarrod Scott Saltalamacchia , nicknamed "Salty" is an American professional baseball catcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.His last name is the longest in Major League Baseball history...
, minor league pitchers Neftali Feliz and Beau Jones, and shortstop prospect Elvis Andrus
Elvis Andrus
Elvis Augusto Andrus Torres is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Texas Rangers.Entering , he was rated by Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization...
, were traded by the Braves to the Texas Rangers for Mark Teixeira
Mark Teixeira
Mark Charles Teixeira , nicknamed "Tex" is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Mostly a first baseman, he has also played third base and in the outfield...
and Ron Mahay
Ron Mahay
Ronald Matthew Mahay is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played for the Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, Florida Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, and Minnesota Twins....
.
Texas Rangers (2008–present)
Harrison missed the end of the 2007 minor league regular season due to shoulder inflammation. He made his first appearance for the Rangers organization with the Surprise RaftersSurprise Rafters
The Salt River Rafters are a baseball team that plays in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick near Scottsdale, Arizona....
during the 2007 Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
season, where he accounted for a perfect 5–0 record.
At the start of the season, Harrison was assigned to the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders
Frisco RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are currently the Class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers major league baseball club. The team plays in the Texas League, assigned to the South Division. Prior to 2003, the franchise was based in Shreveport, Louisiana, and were known as the Shreveport Captains...
of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
. On May 18, he threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against the San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
, only the second no-hitter in RoughRiders' history. After only nine appearances with Frisco, Harrison earned a promotion to the Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks in June. While in Oklahoma, he went 3–1, with a 3.55 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in six appearances.
As the middle of the season wore on, the Rangers pitching staff suffered a number of injuries, forcing the club to call up Harrison from Frisco on July 8. He made his major league debut with the Rangers that day, beating the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, 3–2, outdueling All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Joe Saunders
Joe Saunders
Joseph Francis Saunders is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.-College and minor league career:...
in the process. On September 12, Harrison threw a complete game shutout in a 7–0 road victory against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. This was the first shutout by a Rangers rookie left-hander in two decades. Harrison—one of 12 Rangers rookies to make their major league debuts in 2008—finished out the season in the majors, ending up with a 9–3 record and a 5.49 ERA.
In 2010, he was 3–2 with a 4.71 ERA, pitching in 37 games (6 of which he started).
2011 was Harrison's best season as a Major Leaguer, he was 14–9, with a 3.39 ERA. Some of the many big moments for him in 2011 were;
- Out-Dueling Felix HernandezFélix HernándezFélix Abraham Hernández , nicknamed "King Félix", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners....
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/news/#player_id=457448 - Started the game the Rangers won to clinch the AL West (Pitched 6 innings, gave up 1)
- Winning Game 4 Of the ALDS versus the Tampa Bay RaysTampa Bay RaysThe Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. With that win Texas won the series and advanced to the ALCS