For those who haven’t yet heard, top prospect Michael Harris II was called up by the Braves to make his MLB debut during the team’s series against the Marlins this past weekend. He’s been the most hyped up prospect since Ronald Acuna Jr, and that’s clearly for good reason. He was batting .305/.372/.506 with 5 HR & 11 stolen bases in 43 minor league games this year. Couple his hitting ability with fantastic outfield defense, and it’s easy to see why he got the call. Let’s discuss the flashes of playmaking ability the 21-year old outfielder showed over this weekend’s series.
Excellent defender
The Braves outfield defense has been an issue all season long, as the team has rotated several candidates in left field while relying primarily on Adam Duvall as our centerfielder. Enter Harris, who started in centerfield & made a fantastic diving catch during Sunday’s game. His presence in the lineup shuffles the outfield & puts everyone in favorable defensive positions. Most days, our outfield will consist of Duvall in left, Harris II in center, and Acuna Jr. in right. Marcell Ozuna, who started most of the team’s games in left, slots back in as our primary DH. Duvall returns to his corner outfield position, where he earned a Gold Glove award last season. The Braves featured one of the worst MLB defensive outfields before Harris’ debut, and they now have one of the best in MLB with him in the lineup. Talk about making an instant impact!
Dependable hitter
Harris II has a career slash line of .291/.359/.439 across his three minor league seasons. He’s currently batting 9th in the lineup, but I believe that could change once he starts hitting well. Michael notched his first hit in his MLB debut and scored the team’s only run in Saturday’s loss. The Braves lineup has struggled to hit for average all year, so Harris’ ability to get on base consistently is a skillset that this team needs to utilize in order to strengthen their offensive firepower. He’s also fast enough to utilize that speed on the bases, a point that I’ll illustrate further below.
Fleet footed runner
The young outfielder hasn’t yet flashed his speed at the MLB level, but it’s coming soon. He had 46 stolen bases in 197 minor league games, which shows that his game is built on speed. Can you imagine having him, Acuna Jr, & Albies terrorizing defenses together on the basepaths? We might not have to imagine it for too much longer, once Harris II starts to heat up at the plate. He’s probably not as fast as Acuna or Albies, but he’s likely a little faster than someone like Dansby Swanson.
The bottom line
Michael Harris II clearly possesses three of the “five tool” traits coveted by MLB teams. His ability to run, hit, and field at elite levels in the minors have been well documented, and Harris will continue developing these traits so that they translate to production at the MLB level. I’m not sure that throwing and hitting for power are in his game, but we’ll find out soon enough. Regardless, the Braves just got a whole lot better on offense & defense with him on their roster. Braves fans will certainly be tuning in to watch the former Stockbridge High School superstar in action.
The Sports Beacon 