Michael Harris II

Michael Machion Harris II (born March 7, 2001) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Braves in the third round of the 2019 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut with them in 2022, and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

Michael Harris II
Harris with the Braves in 2022
Atlanta Braves – No. 23
Center fielder
Born: (2001-03-07) March 7, 2001
DeKalb County, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
May 28, 2022, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.295
Home runs37
Runs batted in121
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Early life and amateur career

Michael Harris II was born to Michael Harris Sr. and LaTaucha Harris.[1][2][3] His mother worked for the Fulton County School System as a special education teacher[2][4] and his father played college baseball at Alcorn State.[5][6] He has a sister, Mikaylah.[5] Harris grew up near Turner Field and wanted to play for the Atlanta Braves since he was a young child.[2] Harris spent his childhood in DeKalb and Henry counties[7] before attending Stockbridge High School in Stockbridge, Georgia.[8] As a high schooler, he was coached by family friend Marquis Grissom in summer leagues and received further training from Grissom during the offseasons.[2]

He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.[9] He signed with the Braves for a bonus of $548,000,[10][11] forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at Texas Tech University,[12] as well as a desire to attend veterinary school.[13] Prior to considering Texas Tech, Harris had been recruited by the Louisiana State Tigers baseball team solely as a pitcher.[1]

Professional career

Minor leagues

Harris started his professional career that year with the Gulf Coast Braves before being promoted to the Rome Braves.[14] Over 53 games between the two teams, he batted .277/.344/.393 with two home runs and 27 runs batted in.

Due to the cancellation of the 2020 Minor League Baseball season due to COVID-19, he did not play for a team.[15] In 2021, the Braves invited him to their spring training.[16] He spent the 2021 season with the Rome Braves, slashing .294/.362/.436 with seven home runs, 64 runs batted in, and 27 stolen bases.[17] In June, he was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.[18][19]

Harris was again invited to spring training by the Braves in 2022.[20][21] He was assigned to the Mississippi Braves to begin the 2022 season, slashing .305/.372/.506 with five home runs, 33 runs batted in, and 11 stolen bases in 43 games before being called up to the major leagues.[22] During the 2022 season, Harris was ranked the 63rd-best prospect in all of Minor League Baseball, and the Braves' best prospect.[23]

Atlanta Braves

On May 28, 2022, Harris was selected to the major league roster, and he made his debut later that day against the Miami Marlins.[24][25] Harris struck out in his first major league at-bat, and later on in the same game, recorded his first hit, a single, and scored his first run.[26] While facing the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 31, Harris drove in his first career run.[27] Harris hit his first career home run against the Washington Nationals on June 13.[28] During the month of June, Harris had a .347/.371/.574 slash line. Of his 35 hits, 13 were extra base hits. He also drove in 16 runs, stole four bases, and won the Rookie of the Month Award.[29][30] On August 17, the Braves and Harris agreed to an eight-year contract extension worth at least $72 million.[31][32][33] As the season continued, Harris, teammate Spencer Strider, and the Braves' later call-up Vaughn Grissom were considered possible National League Rookie of the Year candidates.[34][35][36] Harris was again named Rookie of the Month for August, posting a .337/.400/.590 slash line. Sixteen of his rookie-leading 32 hits during the month were for extra bases.[37][38] In September, Harris was recognized as Rookie of the Month for the third time, having batted .324 with six home runs and 19 RBIs.[39]

On November 14, Harris was named the 2022 National League Rookie of the Year, finishing ahead of teammate Spencer Strider.[40] Harris and Strider were the second pair of Braves to finish first and second for the award, following Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman in 2011.[41] Harris dedicated the award to Marquis Grissom, his youth baseball tutor, with whom he had continued working during the offseasons.[42][43]

References
  1. Bowman, Mark (October 8, 2022). "Harris carries friend's memory with him into 1st postseason". MLB.com. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  2. O'Brien, David (May 28, 2022). "Michael Harris II shines in Braves' most anticipated debut since 2018". The Athletic. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  3. Bowman, Mark (February 9, 2023). "Michael Harris II documentary premieres". MLB.com. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  4. O'Brien, David (August 17, 2022). "Michael Harris II pleased to be part of Alex Anthopoulos' Braves sustainability plan". The Athletic. LaTaucha Harris, a special education teacher for Fulton County Schools
  5. Yates, Clinton (September 30, 2022). "Michael Harris' baseball life has always been in Braves Country". Andscape. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  6. Cleveland, Rick (April 22, 2022). "Atlanta Braves' No. 1 prospect Michael Harris is a chip off the old Alcorn State block". Mississippi Today. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  7. Martinez, Courtney (17 August 2022). ""He's an A-town boy:" Michael Harris II's family overjoyed he's staying with hometown Braves". WSB-TV 2. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  8. Hummer, Steve (June 10, 2019). "Stockbridge's Harris now a Brave, ready to go to work on a dream". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  9. Goodman, Darius (June 4, 2019). "Stockbridge High's Michael Harris drafted by Atlanta in the third round". Henry Herald. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  10. Cleveland, Rick (April 22, 2022). "ATLANTA BRAVES' NO. 1 PROSPECT MICHAEL HARRIS IS A CHIP OFF THE OLD ALCORN STATE BLOCK". The Pine Belt News. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  11. Schlossberg, Dan (May 30, 2022). "Braves Promote Blue-Chip Rookie Michael Harris II Ahead Of Schedule". Forbes. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  12. Goodman, Darius (November 18, 2018). "Michael Harris II commits to Texas Tech to continue baseball career". Henry Herald. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  13. Toscano, Justin (June 4, 2022). "Love for animals nearly took Braves outfielder Michael Harris to vet school". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  14. Burns, Gabe (November 4, 2020). "Michael Harris Is Poised To Rise Quickly". Baseball America. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  15. Adler, David (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  16. O'Brien, David (March 10, 2022). How local product Michael Harris is turning heads with the Braves this spring. Retrieved March 24, 2022. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  17. "Michael Harris: Braves 2021 Minor League Player of the Year". Baseball America.
  18. Bowman, Mark (July 8, 2021). "Braves prospect Harris gets high praise". MLB.com. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  19. Burns, Gabriel (June 30, 2021). "Drew Waters, Michael Harris named to 2021 Futures game". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  20. Bowman, Mark (March 7, 2022). "'He's unreal': Top prospect Harris continues to turn heads at Braves camp". MLB.com. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  21. Toscano, Justin (March 6, 2022). "'An absolute freak': Top Braves prospect Harris has always turned heads". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  22. "Michael Harris 2022 Minor Leagues Game Logs & Splits". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  23. Trujillo, Nick (May 2, 2022). "Harris II extends on-base streak with first career multihomer game". MLB.com. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  24. Toscano, Justin (May 28, 2022). "Braves call up top prospect Michael Harris for his MLB debut". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  25. Bowman, Mark (May 28, 2022). Braves call up top prospect Harris to bolster OF. Retrieved May 28, 2022. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  26. Riker, John (May 28, 2022). "Braves' top prospect Michael Harris impresses in his debut". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  27. Toscano, Justin (June 1, 2022). "Braves waste 4-run lead, 4-hit night from Matt Olson". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  28. "Albies breaks foot, but Braves beat Nats for 12th straight". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  29. Harrigan, Thomas (July 2, 2022). "J-Rod, Harris recognized as June's Rookies of the Month". MLB.com. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  30. "Braves sign OF Michael Harris II". MLB.com. August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  31. Toscano, Justin (August 16, 2022). "Braves keep young star Michael Harris home with eight-year contract extension". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  32. Bowman, Mark (August 16, 2022). "Braves sign rookie Harris to 8-year deal". Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  33. "Atlanta Braves, Michael Harris II agree to 8-year, $72 million extension". ESPN.com. August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  34. O'Brien, David (August 21, 2022). "Braves rookies are thriving, and their colorful personalities are showing". The Athletic. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  35. Toscano, Justin (August 24, 2022). "'The kid can just hit': Vaughn Grissom's first two weeks with Braves a success". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  36. Olney, Buster (August 27, 2022). "How Vaughn Grissom and Michael Harris II became the Atlanta Braves' latest homegrown stars". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  37. Murphy, Brian (September 3, 2022). "Kirby, Harris named August's top rookies". Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  38. Toscano, Justin (September 3, 2022). "Braves outfielder Michael Harris wins second NL Rookie of the Month award". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  39. "Michael Harris II wins ROTM". MLB.com. October 3, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  40. Schoenfield, David (November 14, 2022). "Braves' Michael Harris II edges teammate Spencer Strider for NL ROY". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  41. Langs, Sarah (November 14, 2022). "Harris II, Strider join exclusive list of dynamic rookie teammates". MLB.com. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  42. Willis, Kris (14 November 2022). "Michael Harris on being Rookie of the Year, 2023 goals". Battery Power. SB Nation. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  43. Bowman, Mark; Ladson, Bill (November 14, 2022). "Harris wins NL ROY Award as Braves go 1-2 in balloting". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
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