Michael Harris -- Prospect Evaluation

Michael Harris II, who turned 21 on Monday, continues to establish himself as one of baseball's elite prospects during Atlanta Braves spring training. The suburban Atlanta native is the organization's No. 4 prospect overall and ranks No. 89 among all MLB prospects. In his first full professional season with High A Rome, Harris demonstrated exceptional performance, batting .294 with seven home runs and a .798 OPS across 420 plate appearances while converting 27 of 31 stolen base attempts. He earned a Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award following the season, showcasing defensive excellence in the outfield.

The Braves made a prescient decision when scouting director Dana Brown selected Harris in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Unlike most teams that rated him higher as a pitcher, Atlanta's scouts, led by Brown, identified his superior potential as a position player after observing him play for Stockbridge High School. Harris, who had been committed to Texas Tech, has since developed into what Braves hitting instructor Greg Walker describes as a special talent. The coaching staff emphasizes that scouts performed well to identify Harris early, noting that few other organizations recognized his offensive potential at the time of the draft.

Michael Harris II (full name: Michael Machion Harris II) is a left-handed hitting outfielder drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 3rd round (98th overall) of the 2019 MLB Draft, signing for $547,500. Standing 6'0" and weighing 195 pounds, Harris debuted on 05/28/2022 and has compiled a .267 batting average with a .299 on-base percentage and .434 slugging percentage across 1,556 at-bats, with 54 home runs.

Harris is described as an athletic, two-way player with legitimate professional potential both as a hitter and pitcher. As a pitcher, the left-hander has shown fastball velocity up to 93 mph (typically sits 88-92 mph) and can throw a curveball with shape and depth, though he currently lacks power in that pitch. His ceiling appears higher on the mound, but Harris demonstrates a clear preference for hitting.

As a position player, Harris is a plus runner with above-average bat speed from the left side and raw power potential. He plays center field with good range and chase-down ability. Questions remain about the quality of his hit tool, and he may need to prove his ability at the next level to advance.

Harris was ranked the Atlanta Braves' #1 prospect in 2022 and Baseball America's #46 overall prospect that same year. He has experienced multiple injury setbacks, including a strained left hamstring requiring rehab assignments to the Gwinnett Stripers. He attended Stockbridge and was scouted regularly throughout 2018-2021.

Michael Harris, a 19-year-old outfielder drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the third round in 2019, represents one of the organization's most promising prospects as the farm system works to replace recent talent losses. Harris, a local Georgia product who grew up following the Braves, was originally considered both a pitcher (throwing 91 mph) and outfielder before the Braves committed to developing him exclusively as an outfielder. Braves scouting director Dana Brown highlighted Harris' athleticism, defensive ability, and power potential as reasons for optimism. In 2019, Harris demonstrated strong production in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League (.349/.403/.514, 6 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs in 31 games), though he struggled at low Class A Rome (.183 in 22 games) while reportedly making defensive strides. Following pandemic-related training and participation in the Braves' 2020 alternate training site and instructional league, Harris displayed noticeable physical development. Those within the organization have praised his character and mentality. The key to Harris' continued ascent will be improving consistent contact at the plate, which Braves officials have identified as his focus for the upcoming season.

This article is a scouting report on Michael Harris by David Lee, published on the Braves Prospects Substack on June 2, 2021. The specific details of the scouting evaluation, Harris's skills assessment, and projection are not available in the provided excerpt, as the content is restricted to paid subscribers only. The piece appears to be part of a series analyzing Atlanta Braves prospects and their development potential within the organization's minor league system.

Michael Harris is a 20-year-old switch-hitting outfielder in the Atlanta Braves system, drafted in the 3rd round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Standing 6-0 and weighing 195 lbs, Harris is athletically built with strong hands and a thick lower half, though he lacks significant physical projection. As a hitter, Harris displays quick wrists and average or better bat speed from both sides, with a more natural and relaxed approach from the left side. His swing is level and generates live-drive contact to all fields, though he can get jammed on inside pitches and is still adjusting to professional-quality breaking balls. His power grades as above-average from both sides of the plate, manifesting primarily to the pull-side with gap power in games as he makes better contact and grows stronger. Defensively, Harris excels in the outfield with above-average range due to good instincts and above-average to plus foot speed. His arm is a standout tool, graded as a 60, featuring significant carry and accuracy with the ability to make plays from right field. Harris shows above-average to plus speed in the 60-yard dash and flashes plus times down the lines depending on his jump. He is an effective base stealer with good jump instincts and can take extra bases on plays to the grass. Harris is Rule 5 eligible in 2023 and currently ranks 15th in the Braves organization with an overall future potential grade of 45.