Michael Harris’ September Surge Shows Glimpse of Braves’ Future Star

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00:00Michael Harris' September surge shows glimpse of Braves' future star.

00:05For much of the summer, Michael Harris II struggled at the plate,

00:08enduring a 1-for-34 slump that left his numbers below his 2022 Rookie of the Year standards.

00:15A batting stance adjustment sparked a brief surge in August,

00:18but over the past two weeks, he fully rediscovered his rhythm.

00:22In his final 11 games, Harris hit .340 with two home runs and six RBIs,

00:27pushing his season totals near another 20-homer, 90-RBI campaign.

00:32Combined with his defensive value, his late-season turnaround solidifies his role in Atlanta's 2026 lineup.

00:39Harris' late surge doesn't erase a season marked by struggles.

00:43His walk rate dropped to a career-low 2.6%, well below the 8.4% MLB average,

00:50often leaving him in pitcher-friendly counts and producing weak contact.

00:53However, his strikeout rate held steady at 18.5%, pointing to pitch selection rather than swing and miss issues.

01:01A mechanical tweak, bringing his hands quicker to the ball, fueled his September rebound,

01:06with his hard-hit rate climbing back above 40% per fan graphs.

01:10The challenge ahead is combining that contact ability with better plate discipline.

01:15Even during his offensive struggles, Harris' defense stayed elite.

01:18Baseball savant ranks him among the top center fielders in outs above average,

01:23with range and jumps that change games.

01:25His reliability in center stabilizes the outfield,

01:28allowing the Braves' stars, Ronald Acuna, Matt Olsen, and Austin Riley, to carry the offense.

01:35His glove sets a high floor, while his bat dictates his ceiling.

01:39Harris is still just 24, though his Rookie of the Year season quickly raised expectations.

01:44His 2025 campaign was uneven, but a strong September proved his tools remain intact.

01:51Manager Brian Snitker stressed perspective, noting Harris doesn't need 30 and 100 to be a winning player,

01:57just to be a reliable piece of a strong lineup.

01:59With his speed, defense, and late-season surge, Harris has shown he can fill that role.

02:05The Braves' 2026 outlook hinges on stabilizing areas like bullpen depth and the middle infield,

02:11but Harris isn't among those concerns.

02:13He's a foundational piece whose growth shapes the team's ceiling.

02:17If he carries his September approach forward,

02:20improving patience while sustaining elite defense, Atlanta will benefit.

02:25His 2025 slump may have stood out,

02:27but his strong finish reaffirmed Harris as part of the Braves' long-term core.

02:31The Braves' 20 u.m.

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