Ryan Harbin
Ryan Harbin
Position: RHP
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 195 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 08/06/2001
High School: Bartow (FL) HS
How Acquired: Draft 17th Round, 514th Overall, 2019
Bonus: $397,500
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2023
Minor League Free Agency: 2025
Options Left: 3
Overview
Harbin was drafted as a classic projectable prep pitcher, with a tall, lean frame that suggested he could add velocity as he filled out. When drafted, he sat in the upper 80s with his fastball, but late in the year he topped out at 94 MPH. He throws from a three-quarters arm slot and has easy arm action. He also threw a curveball and a changeup. Now he sits at about 96, and adds a cutter and slider. Harbin had a 2.10 ERA in 50 innings in high school in his draft year, with a 56:23 K/BB ratio. Most of the walks came early, with 16 walks in his first 14 innings. He only walked seven in his final 36 innings, so it seemed that something clicked for him. He had a commitment to State College of Florida, but signed for $272,500 over the slot amount.
2019-21
The first several years of Harbin’s career were dominated by injuries. He made three starts and one relief appearance in the GCL and had a rough time, with more walks than strikeouts and a 9.31 ERA. After the pandemic year, the Pirates sent him back to the FCL in 2021. He threw three shutout innings in his first start, then struggled through four more. He was out from mid-July to mid-August, then made one start and didn’t pitch again. The injury is unknown.
2022-23
Harbin went back to the FCL and, except for one bad outing, pitched well in relief over eight games. He made one scoreless appearance for Bradenton near season’s end. In 2023, he opened the season in the Bradenton bullpen. He dominated the level, with an 0.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 12.1 K/9 in 21 games. The Pirates promoted him to Greensboro in early July and he had the opposite experience there, with a 6.65 ERA and 1.80 WHIP. Starting in late August, he did get on a good run of four scoreless, two-inning starts before giving up two runs in his last game.
2024
Harbin was hurt at the start of 2024, then worked his way up to Greensboro in late May. He didn’t get good results, with a 5.40 ERA. The biggest problem was walks, 5.6 per nine innings. His stuff was good enough to miss a great many bats, leaving him with a 12.9 K/9.
Stats
Transactions
June 5, 2019: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round, 514th overall pick; signed on June 19.