When the Boston Red Sox stunned the league in June by trading Rafael Devers to San Francisco, Kyle Harrison’s name was the one that made fans feel at least a little bit hopeful.
Harrison was the prize. The top prospect. The kind of left-handed arm that could be a difference-maker. The question was never about the stuff, it was whether Boston could unlock it.
Two months later, the returns are looking awfully promising.
Harrison’s work with Triple-A Worcester when he first arrived in late June showed flashes of dominance but mixed with inconsistency. Not entirely unexpected for the third-round draft pick in 2020, who was getting acclimated to a new organization after being traded for the first time in his career.
But in the past few weeks, Harrison has piled up strikeouts and limited the scoring in multiple starts. In 23.1 innings over his last five starts, Harrison has given up six runs, five of them earned, on 21 hits. While the 15 walks allowed are concerning, the 23-year-old has struck out 26.
Kyle Harrison Impresses New Teammates at Triple-A Worcester
Worcester manager Chad Tracy said he could see right from the start that Harrison had something special. Even in his rough moments, Harrison showed his new team that he could fight through challenges.
“That’s a major league starter right there,” Tracy said.
“We’ve seen flashes, just have to be consistent with it. But there’s certainly no question having watched him that the guy’s got really good stuff.”
Since arriving in Worcester, Harrison has taken the ball every fifth day and given the WooSox the kind of outings that win games. He’s shown enough poise and command of his stuff to make the jump to Boston feel more like a matter of “when” than “if.”
For the Red Sox, the timing could be perfect. Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, and Lucas Giolito have anchored the top half of the rotation, but the back end has been unsettled. Walker Buehler’s inconsistency and Dustin May’s uneven debut have left gaps, and beyond that group, the organization lacks a proven depth option.
Analysts have pointed to Harrison as a potential solution. His profile — a lefty who can miss bats and work through a lineup a couple of times — fits exactly what Boston needs to stabilize the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation down the stretch.
Kyle Harrison Could Provide Important Innings to Aid Boston’s Playoff Push
The advanced numbers add weight to the argument. As highlighted on the Red Seat Radio podcast, Harrison’s strikeout percentage is healthy, with a whiff rate suggesting his stuff will play against big-league hitters, and he’s shown the ability to work efficiently through innings. The walks are a red flag, but given his knack for limiting hits and keeping the ball in the park, the trade-off might be acceptable for a team in need of innings.
Triple-A results never guarantee major league success, but Harrison’s blend of stuff and results suggests he could handle a limited role in Boston right now. Even if that means five-inning starts designed to hand things over to the bullpen, the upgrade over the current alternatives could be meaningful.
The Red Sox are in a fight to secure a postseason berth, and in October, depth matters just as much as star power. A steady fourth starter could help protect the bullpen, keep the rotation aligned, and reduce the pressure on the top three. Harrison’s emergence gives the front office a legitimate in-house option rather than having to scour the waiver wire or lean on another unproven arm.
Boston’s decision will likely come down to whether they value his development over the immediate need. But if Harrison’s performance in Worcester is any indication, the trade that brought him here could start paying off sooner than anyone expected — and possibly change the trajectory of the 2025 season.
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