Comparing Kyle Harrison's debut to Lincecum, Cain, other SF Giants greats

How did Kyle Harrison's big-league debut compare to other homegrown SF Giants aces like Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain?

For the first time in many years, the SF Giants have called up a lot of young prospects, giving homegrown talent a chance to shine in the majors. Latest in the line of call-ups is Kyle Harrison, who made his long-awaited pitching debut Tuesday night against the Phillies. There was a lot of anticipation over how his first start would go. And now we know: he threw 3.1 innings, allowing two runs off of five hits, walking one, and striking out five.

But how did it compare to some of the best of the Giants' homegrown pitching talent? Let's take a look.

Logan Webb: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 7 K, Win

Webb, the most recent of the Giants' top-ranked pitching prospects, was called up on August 17th, 2019, and made his debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks the same day. He threw 93 pitches in five innings, only allowing two runs (one earned) off of five hits, striking out seven and walking one. 

Unlike Harrison, who made his debut firmly in the "Designated Hitter" era, and didn't get a chance to bat, Webb entered as hitting pitchers were on their way out. He had two plate appearances in his first MLB game, walking once and fouling out once. Webb was also the first Giants starter since 2009 to earn a win in his Major League debut, owing in large part to former first baseman Brandon Belt, who hit a grand slam in the second inning.

Webb finished 2019 with a 2-3 record, throwing 39.2 innings, striking out 37, and giving up 14 walks. The Giants, who were second in the NL West at 63-61 the day Webb made his debut, finished the season at 77-85, and did not appear in the postseason.

Madison Bumgarner: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, No decision

Bumgarner, a veritable Giants legend, whose postseason performances put him firmly in the "Forever Giant" category, made his Major League debut in 2009, just two years after being drafted tenth overall. He was ranked the 14th-best prospect in the country by Baseball America in 2007.

In his debut, made on September 8th, 2009 against the San Diego Padres, he pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two runs off of five hits, two of them home runs. Though he proved to be quite a solid hitter (for a pitcher) throughout his Giants tenure, with 19 home runs and 62 runs batted in to show for it, he went 0-2 that night, striking out and lining out. 

The Giants gave up the lead three times to lose the game 4-3 and went on to finish the season at 88-74. They fell to third place in the NL West and got ousted from the NL West Wild Card spot by the Colorado Rockies at the end of the season. But their finish was far stronger than pundits had predicted at the beginning of the year, after four straight losing seasons. The next year, of course, they would go on to win the first of three rings in the 2010's dynasty, helped tremendously by Bumgarner.

Tim Lincecum: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 5 BB, 5 K, No decision

Lincecum, two-time Cy Young winner with one of the most wicked deliveries in Major League baseball, was called up to the show in 2007 after starter Russ Ortiz was injured. Drafted tenth overall in 2005 by the Giants, his $2.025 million signing bonus was, then, the largest the team had ever paid to an amateur player.

His debut on May 6th, 2007, showed flashes of the brilliance that was to come in his nine years with the Giants. He struck out five, three in the first inning, but also gave up five runs off five hits, two of which were home runs. Lincecum was never known for being a particularly strong batter, and in his debut struck out and grounded into a fielder's choice. Ultimately, the Giants lost against the Phillies 8-5, coming back twice from behind but unable to seal the deal.

Bruce Bochy joined the team as manager in 2007 and began his long journey to attempt to turn the ball club around. The Giants finished 71–91, fifth in the NL West, but showed promise under Bochy's new management and in the additions of Lincecum and starting pitcher Barry Zito. Lincecum would go on to throw two no-hitters and help the team win three championships during his time in San Francisco.

Jonathan Sánchez: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, Win

Sánchez, who was drafted by the Giants in the 27th round of the 2004 Major League draft, was mostly expected to be a long reliever for the team. He worked his way through the minor leagues rather quickly, and made his MLB debut on May 28th, 2006, coming in for Kevin Correia who had relieved Jamey Wright. He pitched the seventh inning and retired all three of his batters with 17 pitches.

He made his first start on September 6th of that season, going 5.2 innings and allowing only one run off three hits. He struck out seven and got the win for the game when the Giants defeated the Cincinnati Reds 3-2. He grounded out and flew out in his at-bats. The Giants went 76–85 in 2006 and finished third in the NL West, and Sánchez still wasn't promised a place in the starting rotation.

In 2007, though ranked as the second-best prospect in the organization behind only Tim Lincecum, he struggled with injury and performed more poorly than expected. He returned primarily to a relief role, only starting games beginning in September, and going 1-3 in them. But from 2008 to 2010, he put together such solid performance that he became a reliable piece of the Giants' starting rotation. In 2009, he threw a no-hitter, and in 2010 he helped the team to its first ring.

Matt Cain: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, Loss

Cain, a draftee out of high school in Tennessee, selected by the Giants 25th overall in 2002, made his Major League debut three short years later. In late August of 2005, the Giants called him up to join their rotation, and upon entering the majors, he became the second youngest player across the league, behind the Mariners' Félix Hernández, at 20 years old.

In his first outing on August 29th, Cain threw five innings, allowing two runs off three hits, including a home run. He struck out two and walked four before handing the ball over to the bullpen, but the Giants weren't able to pull out a win for his debut, losing 2-1 to the Colorado Rockies. In his single plate appearance, he struck out.

The Giants didn't fare much better that season, finishing third place in the NL West at 75–87. Their offense, normally bolstered by a one-man show in Barry Bonds, also suffered immensely as he was only healthy enough to appear in 14 games, dealing with multiple knee injuries. But Cain would go 2-1 on the season with a 2.33 ERA over 46.1 innings pitched. The three-time All-Star also helped the team to their first two championships in San Francisco and pitched a perfect game in his eighth season.

Despite these pitchers becoming important pieces of the San Francisco Giants' story, each in their own ways, none had particularly outstanding debuts aside from Webb. Harrison's debut, while stronger than Lincecum's from an earned run perspective, was strikingly similar in other ways. Both Harrison and Lincecum gave up a home run to an All-Star Philly: Bryce Harper and Shane Victorino respectively. And each notched their first strikeout against one-time Dodger, All-Star Phillies: Trea Turner and Chase Utley, respectively.

Kyle Harrison may have hit a snag in the Harper home run, but like his homegrown pitcher predecessors, he also showed incredible promise. Either way, SF Giants fans are sure to be excited to say they were watching when the next possible face of the franchise made his first start.