The outfielder is one of the Braves’ most important pieces.
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So, Atlanta Braves, outfielder Michael Harris II, is having a really good spring training.
So, Atlanta Braves, outfielder Michael Harris II, is having a really good spring training.
He’s seven for eighteen with five RBIs, three stolen bases, and three walks.
He’s seven for eighteen with five RBIs, three stolen bases, and three walks.
the walks is what starting pitcher Grant Holmes is noticing the most so far.
the walks is what starting pitcher Grant Holmes is noticing the most so far.
He talked to Sports, Illustrated’s, Harrison, Harrison’s Smajovitz, about that.
He talked to Sports, Illustrated’s, Harrison, Harrison’s Smajovitz, about that.
he said, “Last year, it was the walks.
he said, “Last year, it was the walks.
He didn’t really walk much, and I feel like he’s mashed his walks, if not more than spring training last year.
He didn’t really walk much, and I feel like he’s mashed his walks, if not more than spring training last year.
He’s hit the ball hard.
He’s hit the ball hard.
He still did well enough to be a player of his caliber.”
He still did well enough to be a player of his caliber.”
you know, and then he was just talking about, you know, it’s nice to see him having long at-bats and seeing him come around and be who he is.
you know, and then he was just talking about, you know, it’s nice to see him having long at-bats and seeing him come around and be who he is.
So, you know, Harris has been good at, at, you know, definitely, hitting and getting on base, you know, and hitting for power as well, over his career.
So, you know, Harris has been good at, at, you know, definitely, hitting and getting on base, you know, and hitting for power as well, over his career.
He’s had a seven hundred plus OPS in three of his four seasons.
He’s had a seven hundred plus OPS in three of his four seasons.
last season, he had a six seventy-four OPS, but had, led the team with six triples, twenty stolen bases, was second with a hundred and fifty-two hits, and two hundred and fifty total bases and eighty-six RBIs.
last season, he had a six seventy-four OPS, but had, led the team with six triples, twenty stolen bases, was second with a hundred and fifty-two hits, and two hundred and fifty total bases and eighty-six RBIs.
so he was productive, but his walks have always been his Achilles’ heel.
so he was productive, but his walks have always been his Achilles’ heel.
he’s never had more than twenty-five in a season, and he only had sixteen walks last season, against a, a career-high one hundred and twenty-eight strikeouts.
he’s never had more than twenty-five in a season, and he only had sixteen walks last season, against a, a career-high one hundred and twenty-eight strikeouts.
So, you know, he’s needed to improve his plate, discipline and, patience as well.
So, you know, he’s needed to improve his plate, discipline and, patience as well.
and he’s, he’s doing that this spring so far ’cause, you know, he has three walks in just a handful of games already.
and he’s, he’s doing that this spring so far ’cause, you know, he has three walks in just a handful of games already.
you know, hi-his, his, development is really important for the Braves given, Ronald, Acuna’s uncertain future.
you know, hi-his, his, development is really important for the Braves given, Ronald, Acuna’s uncertain future.
Acuna’s on the last year of his contract this season before, club options, twenty twenty-seven and twenty twenty-eight.
Acuna’s on the last year of his contract this season before, club options, twenty twenty-seven and twenty twenty-eight.
but Harris is under contract much longer through twenty thirty and then team options in twenty thirty-one and twenty thir– twenty thirty-two.
but Harris is under contract much longer through twenty thirty and then team options in twenty thirty-one and twenty thir– twenty thirty-two.
so if Harris develops into a star like this season or, or next season, you know, it’d give the Braves a lot more time to, to compete with a guy, you know, on a more like, a-affordable contract, w- at a star level, you know, moving forward.
so if Harris develops into a star like this season or, or next season, you know, it’d give the Braves a lot more time to, to compete with a guy, you know, on a more like, a-affordable contract, w- at a star level, you know, moving forward.
The thing with, Ronald is that he could become too expensive for the Braves’ liking, after his contract runs out because, for example, somebody like Kyle Tucker just got four years, two hundred and four- forty million dollars from the, the Dodgers.
The thing with, Ronald is that he could become too expensive for the Braves’ liking, after his contract runs out because, for example, somebody like Kyle Tucker just got four years, two hundred and four- forty million dollars from the, the Dodgers.
you know, and the Braves don’t usually hand out contracts like that.
you know, and the Braves don’t usually hand out contracts like that.
So, you know, Harris is on a, team friendly deal right now.
So, you know, Harris is on a, team friendly deal right now.
and same with, A-Acuna, but, you know, hi-his, he– his market value might be too high after twenty twenty-eight.
and same with, A-Acuna, but, you know, hi-his, he– his market value might be too high after twenty twenty-eight.
So, if the Braves have Michael Harris for cheap through twenty thirty-two, that would be really huge for them, especially with Matt O-Olson getting older.
So, if the Braves have Michael Harris for cheap through twenty thirty-two, that would be really huge for them, especially with Matt O-Olson getting older.
He’s about to turn thirty-two.
He’s about to turn thirty-two.
he’s under contract over the next few seasons as well, but, he might not be in his prime for, you know, past, you know, the next couple of years.
he’s under contract over the next few seasons as well, but, he might not be in his prime for, you know, past, you know, the next couple of years.
So, Harris is like the young guy.
So, Harris is like the young guy.
He’s, he’s twenty-five years old.
He’s, he’s twenty-five years old.
if he does make that jump, that, that could be really huge for Atlanta, and, walking more and just st-striking out less, that would, that would, that would be a huge step to that process for him.
if he does make that jump, that, that could be really huge for Atlanta, and, walking more and just st-striking out less, that would, that would, that would be a huge step to that process for him.