Slider a big weapon for Ryan Harbin, control remains an issue

With a fastball that has reached triple-digits, control has remained an issue for Ryan Harbin

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Minor league relievers are difficult to gauge when determining if they are legitimate prospects. Their stuff is generally good, but most suffer from poor control that keeps them from succeeding in the upper levels.

Ryan Harbin's stuff will never be questioned, but as with many lower-level relievers with his skill, the issue has been throwing strikes consistently.

With the 2024 season wrapped up, Harbin has thrown 138 innings in his career. His strikeouts have been impressive (172), but he has also walked 84.

Among pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched in the minors for the Pirates, Harbin had the best strikeout rate (32.8%) but also the ninth-highest walk rate. Despite having the 14th-worst ERA (4.98) among that same group of 65 pitchers with at least 40 innings, he also had the 10th-best xFIP (3.53).

Four of the five home runs he allowed were at First National Bank Field, which ballooned his HR/FB% up to 25%, which is 15% higher than what the average mark generally is.