Michael Harris

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Michael Machion Harris II

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Biographical Information[edit]

Outfielder Michael Harris, also known as Michael Harris II, was a third-round selection by the Atlanta Braves in the 2019 amateur draft, keeping up with a long tradition by the Braves of selecting players from the state of Georgia in the draft. Harris was a star athlete at Stockbridge High School in Stockbridge, GA, located only a few miles south of Atlanta, GA.

Harris began his professional career in 2019 with the the GCL Braves, before receiving a promotion to the Rome Braves of the South Atlantic League. He hit a scorching hot .349 in 31 games in the Gulf Coast League to earn the shot at the higher level, where he was one of the youngest players in the circuit. He ended up at .278/.344/.393 in 53 games, with 26 runs scored and 27 RBIs. After being forced to sit out the 2020 season, he returned in 2021 with Rome, which was now in the High-A East, one level higher than during his first stay there. It did not faze him at all as he had an excellent season, batting .294/.362/.436 in 101 games with 55 runs scored and 67 RBIs. He was named to the National League team for the 2021 Futures Game, won a Gold Glove as one of the best fielding outfielders in the minor leagues, and was selected as an organizational All-Star, firmly ensconsing himself as one of Atlanta's top minor league prospects.

He was called up to Atlanta on May 28, 2022 and started that day's game against the Miami Marlins in center field batting ninth. He went 1 for 3 and scored the Braves' lone run in a 4-1 loss, the hit a single off Sandy Alcantara in the 6th. He had begun the season in AA with the Mississippi Braves, batting .305 with 5 homers, 33 runs and as many RBIs in 43 games and had never played in AAA at the time. With Ronald Acuna unable to play the field regularly due to injuries, the Braves needed to shore up their outfield defense, and he quickly showed superlative skills in that area, but also surprised by hitting .300 (9 for 30) through his first week. He was named the National League Rookie of the Month for June after batting .347 with 4 homers, 18 runs and 16 RBIs. On August 16th, he signed an eight-year deal with the Braves worth $72 million. This came shortly after a similar - but much larger - deal with 3B Austin Riley. He was again the league's Rookie of the Month in August, when he hit .337 with 4 homers, making it the third straight month a Braves player had been honored, as teammate Spencer Strider had won the award in July. He then repeated in september, winning the award for the third time, as he hit .324 with 6 homers and 19 RBIs as the Braves climbed into first place in the NL East just as the month ended. He finished the year at .297 in 114 games with 19 homers and 64 RBIs, with 75 runs and 20 stolen bases in 22 attempts. He was voted the winner of the 2022 National League Rookie of the Year Award, receiving 22 of 30 first-place votes, with the 8 others going to Strider.

Following his breakout 2022 season, Harris was the subject of a documentary entitled "Michael Harris II: The Dream and the Journey", a 20-minute film depicting how he debuted for the Braves only three years after graduating from a high school in suburban Atlanta.

Notable Achievements[edit]


NL Rookie of the Year
2021 2022 2023
Jonathan India Michael Harris Corbin Carroll

Further Reading[edit]

  • Mark Bowman: "Harris on MLB debut: 'I felt like I belonged there': Braves' top prospect singles, scores while starting in center field", mlb.com, May 28, 2022. [1]
  • Mark Bowman: "Braves sign rookie Harris to 8-year deal", mlb.com,, August 17, 2022. [2]
  • Mark Bowman and Bill Ladson: "Harris wins NL ROY Award as Braves go 1-2 in balloting: Center fielder gets 22 first-place votes; Strider picks up remaining 8 in runner-up finish", mlb.com, November 14, 2022. [3]
  • Mark Bowman: "Michael Harris II documentary premieres", mlb.com, February 9, 2023. [4]
  • Paul Casella: "Rookies of the Year J-Rod, Harris have future of game in good hands", mlb.com, November 14, 2022. [5]
  • Sarah Langs: "How Michael Harris’ arrival has sparked the Braves", mlb.com, July 28, 2022. [6]
  • Jonathan Mayo: "Here's what to expect from Michael Harris II", mlb.com, May 28, 2022. [7]

Related Sites[edit]

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