Lefty Harman Joins Wingnuts
March 26, 2018 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, Kans. - The Wichita Wingnuts brought an old foe into the fold on Monday, announcing the signing of left-handed pitcher Casey Harman.
Harman's signing marks his return to professional baseball for the first time since the 2014 season, when the southpaw played for the now-defunct Laredo Lemurs of the American Association. Harman was one of the league's most dependable starters that year, posting a 6-2 record and 4.18 ERA over 13 starts. The Greenville, South Carolina, native also made one start in the postseason, tossing eight strong innings against the Wingnuts in the 2014 Divisional Series to help secure Laredo's first playoff victory.
Harman will be reunited with former teammate John Nester, who caught Harman for three seasons at Clemson University. Together, that duo helped propel the Tigers to the College World Series in 2010, with Harman serving as the club's ace. The lefty went 8-4 with a 3.79 ERA, then outpitched number one ranked Arizona State and their All-American starter Seth Blair in Clemson's opening CWS game. In his Tiger career, Harman finished 16-12 with a 3.86 ERA, striking out 238 batters in 251.2 innings while walking only 60. That career strikeout to walk ratio of nearly 4:1 stands as the fourth best in Clemson program history.
Following his junior season, Harman was drafted in the 29th round by the Chicago Cubs, who assigned him to Class-A Peoria for the 2011 season. After dominating hitters to the tune of a 0.36 ERA in 25.1 innings, Harman was called up to High-A Daytona, where he went 4-5 over nine starts. Harman followed the same script in 2012, tossing five scoreless outings at Daytona to start the year before earning a promotion to Double-A Tennessee. Operating primarily as a reliever, the 29-year old posted a 1-4 mark with a 4.88 ERA for the Smokies in 55.1 innings of work.
The Cubs released Harman in the spring of 2013, but he quickly latched on with the Quebec Capitales of the Can-Am League and put together an excellent season working out of the bullpen. In 42 relief outings, totaling 52.0 innings, Harman fashioned a 2.77 ERA to go along with a 3-2 record and two saves. The Capitales claimed the Can-Am League championship that season, with Harman picking up a win in the series against the New Jersey Jackals.
In addition to signing Harman, the Wingnuts also announced that right-handed pitcher Seth Harvey has been granted his release.
Harman's signing brings the number of Wingnuts players under contract for the 2018 season up to 20. American Association clubs may carry up to 28 players during spring training, which opens on May 6.
Stay up to date on all player signings and transactions by checking on the Wingnuts roster here.
The 11th season of Wingnuts baseball and the club's pursuit of an eighth consecutive division title kicks off with a three-game home series against the Kansas City T-Bones, beginning on Friday, May 18. For information on season tickets, group outings, and party packages, call the Wingnuts main office at (316) 264-NUTS, or visit the Wingnuts official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.
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- Lefty Harman Joins Wingnuts - Wichita Wingnuts
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