If Matt Harrison makes it back to a big-league mound, it's going to be a minor miracle.
The big lefty, who has made just a handful of starts since his career-best 2012 season that earned him a big payday, made his rehab debut with Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday in hitter-friendly Reno, and he pitched a really good game considering it was his first time out against competition above the extended spring training level.
Harrison started the game on the one-year anniversary of his spinal fusion surgery, a procedure no big-league pitcher has ever returned from. He worked five innings, allowing just two runs while throwing 78 pitches and topping off with his fastball at 88 mph.
“It felt great pitching against higher competition,” Harrison told The Dallas Morning News. “The outing went pretty good. I found my rhythm about the fourth inning. The command and stuff was good. I’m just trying to figure out a way to get more out of my legs.”
As we discussed on Wednesday, there is certainly no guarantee Harrison will ever pitch in the big leagues again, but it's hard to count him out in anything. And if Harrison does return, you hope it's in a home start because it's likely you've never heard an ovation at Globe Life Park quite like the one that would merit.
