Kyle Harrison had a night he never will forget on Tuesday.
The Brewers left-handed pitcher dominated the Giants in San Francisco’s 8-3 loss to Milwaukee at American Family Field, striking out a career-high-tying 12 batters while allowing just one earned run in 5 2/3 innings pitched against his former team.
Harrison, who was traded from the Giants to the Boston Red Sox in last June’s stunning Rafael Devers trade before then being dealt to Milwaukee in a six-player trade between the Brewers and Red Sox in February 2026, reflected on facing, and dominating, his former team.
“It’s always gonna feel personal, right?” Harrison told reporters postgame. “I mean, I grew up 40 minutes from that ballpark, I had a great time there and I cherish my memories with them. It feels good (to beat them), but I’ve got to do it in another five days. So you can’t get caught up in that. It was fun to toe the rubber against them, though.”
Harrison, once the Giants’ top pitching prospect, showed flashes of his sky-high potential in 35 career starts across two-plus MLB seasons with San Francisco, but never put it all together at the major-league level, in part due to shoulder and ankle injuries, but believes he eventually could have had a similar level of success that he’s having now with the Brewers this season with San Francisco had he not been traded.
“I think I easily could’ve got there (with the Giants), but it’s hard to look back on it,” Harrison said. “I’m just glad I’m feeling healthy now. I think that’s the biggest thing.”
In 11 starts with Milwaukee this season, Harrison has an eye-popping 1.57 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 16 walks in 57 1/3 innings pitched.
The 24-year-old credits the Brewers coaching staff with helping him make the necessary adjustments at the major-league level.
“They loved my fastball and my stuff,” Harrison said. “It’s, ‘Oh, you’re not making me throw five different pitches? I love it.’ It’s not as in depth as everyone thinks. They just do a real good job at understanding the player, what he needs, and what his bad habits are, how to reinforce those (good) habits.”
Harrison also credits Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook for making two mechanical suggestios, such as moving to the first base side of the rubber and raising his arm angle, that have played a role in his success in Milwaukee.
The only Giants hitter who fared well against Harrison on Tuesday was shortstop Willy Adames, who recorded two hits, including a home run, and a walk against his former teammate. While Adames, who signed with San Francisco in Dec. 2024, only was teammates with Harrison for a few months last year, he has noticed a big difference in the left-handed pitcher’s mechanics this season.
“Totally different,” Adames said of Harrison after the game. “I heard that he was kind of like that when he was coming up in the minor leagues. They totally helped him. They fixed him.”
Harrison’s strong outing, and the Brewers’ win, dropped the Giants to a National League-worst 23-38 record this season.