Michael Harris Is Better Than Ever

"Harris was just 21 years old when he was handed the Braves' everyday center fielder gig. He performed well in his first taste of the majors, slashing .297/.339/.514 across 441 plate appearances. He fell just one homer shy of a 20/20 campaign. Harris earned NL Rookie of the Year honors, beating out teammate Spencer Strider."

"Atlanta signed Harris to an eight-year, $72MM extension in August of that first season. It looked like a good bit of business for both sides. Harris secured a significant payday after just four months as a big leaguer. The Braves locked down a promising young outfielder for the rest of the decade. With Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies also signed to relatively inexpensive long-term deals, the organization had its core in place for the foreseeable future."

"The 2025 campaign was a bounce-back from a health perspective. Harris played a career-high 160 games. The volume helped him finally reach his first 20/20 season. The rate stats were concerning, though. Harris slashed .249/.268/.409 across 641 plate appearances. His walk rate, already among the lowest in the league, fell to 2.5%. Harris chased pitches out of the strike zone more than ever."

"Braves outfielder Michael Harris II picked up four hits on Friday against the Dodgers, pushing his batting average back over .300. The 25-year-old has a career-best 139 wRC+ through 38 games. Harris, already in his fifth big-league season, seems to be making good on the prospect pedigree that had him atop Atlanta's system before his 2022 debut."

Michael Harris II recorded four hits against the Dodgers, lifting his batting average back above .300. He has a career-best 139 wRC+ through 38 games. Harris entered the majors in 2022 at age 21 and became Atlanta’s everyday center fielder, hitting .297/.339/.514 with 20 home runs and earning NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves extended him with an eight-year, $72MM deal in August 2022. His power and overall production dipped in 2023 and 2024, with 2024 ending below league average and including a hamstring injury. In 2025 he played 160 games and reached his first 20/20 season, but his rate stats worsened, including a 2.5% walk rate and increased chase outside the strike zone.

Read at MLB Trade Rumors