Pirates just blew a crucial opportunity with surprise Thomas Harrington demotion

The Pirates optioned Thomas Harrington back to Triple-A Indianapolis before Friday’s game. The rookie made just two appearances with the team following his April 1 call up. In his nine-day big-league stint, Harrington tossed a total four eight innings where he allowed nine runs and collected a 12-out save.

When the Pirates chose to make this move, they lost more than just a Top 100 prospect pitcher.

Thomas Harrington Cannot Net the Pirates a Draft Pick After Thursday Demotion

Major League Baseball instituted the Prospect Promotion Incentive with the league’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2022. Prior to the PPI, teams could hold prospects in the minor leagues to manipulate their MLB service time and steal an extra year on their rookie deals.

The implementation of the PPI rewards teams for promoting their best prospects early in the season. Rookies that accrue at least 172 days of service become eligible to earn their teams a compensatory draft pick. The team earns the pick if that qualified rookie (who started the year as a Top 100 prospect) wins the Rookie of the Year Award or finishes third or higher in MVP or Cy Young voting.

Harrington must remain in the minor leagues for at least 10 days before he rejoins the big-league club. That puts his maximum potential MLB service time at 171 days. Even if Harrington came back to the big leagues and dominated, he would not have enough service time to qualify for the PPI comp selection.

Pirates suffered same PPI fate in different manner with Paul Skenes in 2024

This type of situation occurred last season with Paul Skenes. The eventual 2024 National League Rookie of the Year made his Major League debut on May 11. That began his service time clock, which ran through the finish of the regular season. Those 141 days did not qualify Skenes and the Pirates for the PPI pick they could have received.

For reference, Jared Jones qualified for the Prospect Promotion Incentive last season as MLB's No. 60 prospect preseason. The rookie made Pittsburgh’s 2024 Opening Day roster and collected 185 days of MLB service time. If Jones hit any of those qualifications, the Pirates would have earned the compensatory selection.

Kyle Nicolas will join the Pirates in Cincinnati as the corresponding move for Harrington.