Kyle Harrison may end up with a World Series ring before he throws a single playoff pitch for Milwaukee, and that odd little twist puts him in familiar company.
The Brewers have reached the World Series, and Harrison - the former SF Giants lefty - is along for the ride. So far, his role has looked a lot like the one Tim Lincecum played for the Giants in 2014: on the roster, in the room, but mostly waiting for a chance that never really comes.
That 2014 run had Lincecum in a very different place than the version fans knew from his peak. By then, his numbers had fallen off hard; he posted a 4.74 ERA and eventually lost his spot in the starting rotation late in the year. Even so, he stayed on every playoff roster and didn’t actually appear until Game 2 of the World Series against the Kansas City Royals.
When he finally got in, it was mostly in mop-up duty. Lincecum entered after the Giants were already behind, then threw 1 and 2/3 scoreless innings before leaving because of back tightness.
It’s a strange arc when you look back on it: the ace who was on the mound for the Game 5 masterpiece that won the 2010 World Series, then an effective bullpen piece in 2012, then nearly an afterthought by 2014.
Harrison’s situation is obviously not the same. He’s only 25, which means there’s still plenty of career ahead of him.
But there’s value in this moment, even if it’s mostly from the sidelines. He’s getting a firsthand taste of the postseason, soaking in the atmosphere and seeing what it takes to beat a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers.
There’s also a chance this ends up being just the beginning of his Brewers story. If Milwaukee gets back here again, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Harrison as a real part of the rotation next time around.
His 2026 season has even carried a strange Lincecum-like rhythm of its own. He opened hot, carrying Cy Young-level expectations, then faded as his body wore down, got hurt, and slid into a playoff role that has barely existed at all.
Still, the door isn’t completely shut on a World Series contribution. If a game drags into extra innings or Milwaukee needs someone to soak up bulk innings, Harrison could still be asked to step in, despite not pitching in a game since late September.
For Giants fans who like cheering for familiar faces, he’s the lone one to track in this World Series. Even if he never takes the mound, he’s still the former Giant with a shot at a ring - and that alone makes him the only rooting interest some old fans will have in the Fall Classic, much like Lincecum in 2014.
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