Matthew Reid Harrison¡ Married Meghan Rodgers (12/13/08); one daughter, Addie Grace (12/14/11), and one son, Easten Reid (9/29/14)¡ 2003 graduate of South Granville High School (NC)¡ Funded improvements to the weight room at his alma mater and purchased field equipment and a new batting cage for Granville Central High School (NC)¡ Received the 2014 Harold McKinney Good Guy Award from the Dallas-Fort Worth BBWAA chapter¡ Underwrote travel costs for the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team game in Southlake in January 2015; also donated gift bags and attended the game¡ Donated funds to Johnathan's Place in Dallas and has been involved with United Concordia Mission Arlington¡ Signed by: Bill Best.
2015
Began the season on the DL while recovering from spinal fusion surgery...Activated on 7/4...Pitched 6.0 scoreless innings, 7/21 at COL...Was traded to the Phillies on 7/31 and placed on the DL the same day with lower back inflammation; missed the remainder of the season
2014
After a spring training setback in his attempt to return from back surgery, Harrison went 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA (8 ER/17.1 IP) in 4 starts for Texas before additional back issues forced him into another season-ending surgery...went 1-0, 1.69 (3 ER/16.0 IP) in 3 official rehab starts with Frisco (AA) before joining Rangers, and also pitched 2.0 innings in Frisco's 4/3 rainout...posted quality start in his Rangers return on 4/27 at SEA (6.0 IP, 2 R-ER), but took a no decision despite leading 5-2 when he left the game...earned win 5/8 vs. COL with 5.1 SHO IP, his first ML victory since 9/27/12 vs. OAK...saw diminished velocity in 2nd inning of his final start on 5/13 at HOU, making an early exit in what would be his final outing of the year.
2013
Started the Rangers' first and 5th games, going 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA (10 ER/10.2 IP) in 2 starts … allowed 5 earned runs in both contests…took loss in MLB season opener on March 31 at HOU…retired first 9 batters faced in order, then permitted 2 runs in each of the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings…was the 5th different Opening Day starter for Texas in the last 5 years, following Colby Lewis (2012), C.J. Wilson (2011), Scott Feldman (2010), and Kevin Millwood (2009)…became first Opening Day starter to make just 1-or-2 starts all season since Arizona's Brandon Webb in 2009…Webb's last career MLB outing came in the D-Backs' 2009 opener vs. COL (April 6).
2012
Won the 3rd most games in the American League at 18
and tied for 3rd in complete games (4) and shutouts (2)...also
ranked among the league leaders in ERA (7th, 3.29), innings
(7th, 213.1), quality starts (T8th, 20), and winning percentage
(9th, .621)...led the Rangers in all of those categories as well as
starts (32) and placed 3rd in strikeouts (133), all career highs...
tied for the ML lead with 29 decisions (18-11)...was just the 2nd
pitcher in Rangers history with 18 wins and a sub-3.30 ERA in
a season, joining Fergie Jenkins (1974 and 1978)...captured his
1st Rangers Pitcher of the Year Award...Won his 1st 3 starts, issuing 4 runs in 21.2 innings...went 1-3, 8.10 (24 ER/26.2 IP) over next 5 starts, lifting
ERA to 5.21 through May 17...was 7-0, 1.42 (9 ER/57.0 IP) in his
next 8 outings...matched longest overall career win streak (Sept.
4, 2011-April 21, 2012) and the longest single-season streak by
a Ranger since Tommy Hunter, 8 straight from June 5-July 25,
2010... only Rogers had a longer win streak by a left-hander in
Rangers history (9-game in 2005, 8-game in 2004)...was one of
just 6 A.L. pitchers with a minimum 7-game win streak in 2012...
streak ended with a loss at CWS on July 5...overall, went 8-1,
1.34 (11 ER/74.0 IP) over 9 starts, May 22-July 15 to drop ERA
to 2.87...went 3-5, 4.45 (28 ER/56.2 IP) in next 9 starts...beginning Sept. 11 was 3-2, 2.88 (11 ER/34.1 IP) in last 5 games.
2011
Harrison spent the entire season in the starting rotation for
the first time in his major league career...ranked among the top
16 A.L. qualifiers in wins (T13th, 14), quality starts (T14th, 20), and
ERA (15th, 3.39/5th-best for LHP)...ranked among Texas leaders
in ERA (2nd), quality starts (2nd), wins (T3rd), starts (4th, 30), innings (4th, 185.2), and strikeouts (4th, 126), all of which were career highs...permitted one or zero HR in 28 of 30 starts with
team-best 0.63 HR per 9 inn. ranking 4th-best in A.L....had a 2.21
SO/BB ratio after entering year with a 1.31 career SO/BB figure...
had a total of 11 quality starts in his first 32 career outings from
2008-10.
2010
After missing final 14 weeks of 2009 (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome),
Harrison was the only carry-over from the previous year's
season-opening rotation ... went 3-2, 4.71 (41 ER/78.1 IP) in 37
games/6 starts ... broke camp as club's no. 5 starter for a 2nd
straight campaign and made 6 starts before spending just over 2
weeks on the disabled list with left biceps tendinitis (May 7-28) ...
joined Texas bullpen upon his return and pitched in relief for remainder
of season ... marked his first major league action as a reliever
after 32 consecutive starts to begin career...was not on any
postseason roster for Texas ... also appeared in 3 minors games,
2 on rehab assignment ... posted the highest single-game pitch
counts on the staff as both a starter and reliever ... had 127 pitches
on May 1 at Seattle (6.0 IP), most by a Texas pitcher since knuckleballer
R.A. Dickey tossed 131 pitches on May 2, 2004 vs.
Boston ... threw 80 pitches in a 4.0-inning relief win on July 19 at
Detroit, most by a Texas reliever since Dustin Nippert on Aug. 8,
2008 at Baltimore (91 pitches, 4.0 IP).
2009
Despite making only 11 starts, was second on the staff in complete
games (2), tied for ninth in A.L., and had one of team's three CG
SHO...opponents batted .316, .210 (13-62) by LHB and .351 (68-194) by
RHB...worked at least 5.0 innings in 9-of-11 starts...opened the season in
the Rangers rotation and was 0-2, 9.20 (15 ER/14.2 IP) in his first 3 outings...
won his next 4 starts from April 27-May 14 with a 1.80 ERA (6
ER/30.0 IP) and 18 strikeouts... went 0-3, 10.61 (22 ER/18.2 IP) over final
4 starts...was placed on the 15-day DL on May 29 (retroactive to May 26)
with left shoulder inflammation...made 2 rehab starts with Frisco, June 6
vs. Northwest Arkansas and June 11, allowing 2 runs in 7.0 innings...was
activated on June 17 but made just 2 more starts (10 ER/8.2 IP) before returning to DL on June 28 (retroactive to June 24)...last outing
with the Rangers was loss on June 23 at Arizona (7 ER/3.2 IP)...made rehab start for Frisco on July 22 vs. San Antonio (1 ER/2.0
IP) but continued to feel pain...was diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome on July 24, and Dr. Greg Pearl performed surgery to
remove a rib and alleviate the condition on July 27...pitched for Surprise Rafters in Arizona Fall League, going 1-2, 5.00 (5 ER/9.0
IP) in 5 games/4 starts...worked 6.0 scoreless innings in final 2 outings.
2008
Went 9-3 with a 5.49 ERA (51 ER/83.2 IP) in 15 games/starts for Texas in his major league debut... ranked among A.L. rookie
leaders in wins (T5th), starts (T9th) and ERA (10th)...his win total was T5th-most among A.L. rookies...was the only pitcher in the
major leagues to be 5-or-more games above .500 despite an ERA of at least 5.00...ranked among Texas team leaders in wins (T2nd),
starts (4th), quality starts (4th, 6), and innings (6th) despite not making his big league debut until July 8...only Rangers with as many
wins as Harrison were club's no. 1 and 2 starters on Opening Day, Kevin Millwood (9) and Vicente Padilla (12)...with 4 wins in Aug.,
matched a club record for most victories by a rookie in a single month (also R.A. Dickey, Aug. 2003 & Colby Lewis, Sept. 2003)...had
a 4-game win streak to end the year, 2nd-longest among all Rangers pitchers for the season...had a team-high average of 9.25 runs
of support per 9 innings, easily the highest among any major league pitcher with 30.0 innings or more this season...Texas scored at
least 12 runs in 5 of Harrison's 15 starts...opponents batted .300 (100-333), .310 (27-87) by lefties and .297 (73-246) by right-handers...
went 5-2, 5.94 (35 ER/53.0 IP) in 10 games/starts in Arlington and 4-1, 4.70 (16 ER/30.2 IP) in 5 games/starts on the
road...won all 4 starts against A.L. East clubs, 4-0, 4.26 (12 ER/25.1 IP)...no other Texas pitcher had more than 2 wins against the
East...in fact, was one of just 8 non-division pitchers with at least 4 wins against the East...won all 3 starts against Oakland, including
his shutout...recalled from Oklahoma (AAA) on July 8 and won his major league debut that night against the Angels at Rangers
Ballpark (2 ER/7.0 IP)...took no decision in next start on July 13 vs. Chicago-AL, a 4-hour, 12-11 win in final game before All-Star
break...took first career loss July 19 at Minnesota, first career road start, allowing 8 runs in 5.0 innings for a 14-2 Texas loss...earned
2007
Went 5-7, 3.39 in 20 starts for Mississippi (AA) in final season in Atlanta
organization...was 4-2, 2.05 in 9 road starts...started season 4-0, 2.14 (8 ER/33.2 IP) in first 6 starts...was 1-6, 3.21 (22 ER/61.2 IP)
in last 10 outings despite 7 quality starts in that span...tossed 1.2 scoreless innings as South Division starter in Southern League
All-Star Game...was placed on the DL on July 29 with a left shoulder strain...was acquired by Texas in July 31 trade, but did not pitch
for the Rangers until Arizona Fall League due to issues with throwing shoulder...went 5-0, 2.00 (6 ER/27.0 IP) in 7 games/starts for
Surprise Rafters in the AFL.
2006
Was named the seventh-best prospect in the Carolina League after the 2006 season by
Baseball America and named as the third-best prospect in the Braves' system...Named Mississippi (AA) Braves Pitcher of the Month for August by the Atlanta Braves organization...Named Myrtle Beach (A) Pitcher of the Year and Pitcher of the Month for May by the Braves organization...Led organization with 158.2 IP, was second with 11 wins, fifth with 3.35 ERA and tied for sixth with 114 Ks...Selected to play for the Carolina League All-Stars when they faced the California League All-Stars on 6/27...Threw one of two complete games for the M-Braves in 2006...Recorded his first career AA win on 7/15 at HVL. Threw seven shutout innings (5 H, 3 K)...Got a ND on 7/21 vs TNS. Left in the seventh after getting hit in the leg by a ball hit back up the middle...Came in 8/1 vs. CAR to relieve Kyle Davies who threw two innings on a rehab assignment. Threw five hitless, scoreless innings in a 2-1 win...Won his third game of the year and his second consecutive game on 8/7 at MTG. Threw six shutout innings in the M-Braves 2-1 win over the Biscuits...Gave up an unearned run on three hits in six innings in the M-Braves 4-2 win over HVL on 8/12. Did not
factor into the decision...Got a ND 8/28 at HVL, despite giving up just three runs on six hits through seven innings.
2005
Was third in wins (12), second in shutouts (1), second in innings pitched (167.0), fifth in home runs
allowed (17), second in games started (27), ninth in ERA (3.23), and third in complete games (2) in the South
Atlantic League...Finished third in the Braves organization with 12 wins...Led all Braves farmhands with 167.0
innings pitched...Ranked fourth among Braves minor leaguers with a 3.23 ERA...Was second in the Braves
organization behind Chuck James with 118 strikeouts.
2004
Was second in innings pitched (66.0), fourth in hits (72), fifth in earned runs (30), and first in complete
games (1) in the Appalachian League.
2003
Had six starts in his 11 appearances for the GCL champions.
