May 30, 2011

QUEENS, N.Y. - Former University of Cincinnati All-American, Josh Harrison (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) was promoted to the Pittsburgh Pirates from Triple-A Indianapolis, the Pirates announced Monday.

Harrison arrived at Citi Field Monday afternoon in time for the Pirates' Memorial Day game against the New York Mets. The 23-year-old was called up after ranking fifth in the International League with a .321 (43 for 134) batting average with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs, 11 RBI and two stolen bases in 37 games with the Indians in 2011.

Harrison is the second former UC ballplayer to make his major-league debut this month. His teammate of two years, outfielder Tony Campana was promoted to the Chicago Cubs on May 17. Combined with Red Sox All-Star third baseman Kevin Youkilis, three Bearcats are currently playing Major League Baseball.

The Chicago Cubs drafted Harrison in the sixth round with the 191st overall pick in 2008. While in Single-A, Harrison was traded to the Pirates, along with Kevin Hart and Jose Ascanio, in exchange for John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny on July 30, 2009.

Harrison is a four-time All-Star during his three-year professional career. In 367 minor-league games, the 5-foot-8-inch infielder owns a .307 (431 for 1,404) batting average with 84 doubles, 14 home runs, 170 RBI and 75 stolen bases.

In three seasons (2006-08) at Cincinnati, Harrison entrenched his name in the UC record book. He ranks in the Bearcat top 10 in batting average (4th, .358), runs (3rd, 192), hits (4th, 246), doubles (4th, 53), RBI (5th, 153), total bases (5th, 366), and stolen bases (2nd, 63).

In his final season at UC, Harrison helped guide Cincinnati to a school-record 39 wins and a second-place regular season finish in the BIG EAST. He earned second-team All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball and was named the BIG EAST co-Player of the Year in '08 after leading the Bearcats with a .378 batting average, 90 hits and 22 doubles.

Harrison's Professional Awards/Honors:
07/14/2010 Eastern League Midseason All-Star
08/25/2009 Midwest League Postseason All-Star
07/27/2009 Florida State League Player of the Week
06/23/2009 Midwest League Midseason All-Star
08/28/2008 Northwest League Postseason All-Star

Harrison's Collegiate Awards/Honors:
2008 Collegiate Baseball All-America Second Team
2008 BIG EAST co-Player of the Year
2008 All-BIG EAST First Team 04/26/
2008 BIG EAST Player of the Week
2007 ABCA All-Region Second Team
2007 All-BIG EAST Second Team
2006 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American
2006 All-BIG EAST Third Team
02/27/2006 BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll