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Former All-Star Infielder Josh Harrison Scores Minor League Deal With Cincinnati Reds

Josh Harrison may not be the All-Star he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2010s, but the veteran infielder will try to revive his career with the Cincinnati Reds to open 2024.
Sam Connon|
Former All-Star Infielder Josh Harrison Scores Minor League Deal With Cincinnati Reds
Former All-Star Infielder Josh Harrison Scores Minor League Deal With Cincinnati Reds

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Cincinnati RedsPittsburgh Pirates

The Cincinnati Reds have signed infielder Josh Harrison to a minor league contract, his agency announced Monday afternoon.

Harrison spent 2023 with the Philadelphia Phillies, who wound up releasing him midway through the season. The infielder then latched on with the Texas Rangers, but he opted out of his minor league deal with the club after failing to reach the majors.

The 36-year-old was once a star for the Pittsburgh Pirates, though, and his reputation remains strong enough for the Reds to invite him to Spring Training. Harrison was also born and raised in Cincinnati, making this a long-awaited homecoming for the 13-year veteran.

Harrison spent eight seasons with the Pirates, earning spots in the All-Star Game in both 2014 and 2017. Harrison finished ninth in NL MVP voting in 2014, hitting .315 with 13 homers, 52 RBI, 18 stolen bases, 38 doubles and an .837 OPS.

Harrison was a .290 hitter from 2014 to 2017, all while splitting time between second base, third base and the outfield.

Although he hit .291 with a .794 OPS as a member of the Washington Nationals in 2020 and 2021, Harrison has not seen as much success at his other recent destinations. Harrison had a .480 OPS with the Detroit Tigers in 2019, a .637 OPS with the Oakland Athletics in 2021, a .687 OPS with the Chicago White Sox in 2022 and a .554 OPS with the Phillies in 2023.

Even with those recent struggles at the plate, Harrison is at least capable of providing a veteran presence in a young Reds infield.

First baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand, second baseman Matt McLain, shortstop Elly De La Cruz and third baseman Noelvi Marte all made their MLB debuts in 2023. With first baseman Joey Votto gone and second baseman Jonathan India apparently on the trade block, there could be notably less major league experience in the Reds clubhouse entering 2024.

Harrison would provide a quick fix for that, if he were to climb his way through the ranks and make Cincinnati's active roster.

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer covering baseball for “Fastball on SI.’’ He previously covered UCLA Athletics for On SI’s All Bruins site, and is a UCLA graduate, with his work there as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for On SI’s New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Sam lives in Boston.

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