Michael Harris: The Atlanta Braves Next Big-time Prospect
It was really hard to get a read on prospects in 2020, but one name every Atlanta Braves fan should remember is Michael Harris.
I’ve made it clear during some recent articles and podcasts that I think the farm system of the Atlanta Braves is becoming rather weak.
The team has called up a ton of guys recently who are now a big part of the Major League team, and the international restrictions are starting to catch up with.
Plus, I don’t think they’ve killed it in the most recent drafts — particularly the shortened 2020 draft where it seems like they went with high floor and low ceiling-type prospects.
But the one player I’m excited about the most, and the guy I think will be leading their prospect rankings in a year or two, is outfielder Michael Harris.
I love him so much that I even went out and bought several of his rookie cards hoping they triple in value in a couple of years when he’s a top 100 overall prospect.
Drafted out their own backyard DeKalb, GA, the Braves took him in the third round of the 2019 draft.
He entered the draft as a two-way player and many teams liked him for his arm, but Atlanta chose him for his bat.
Harris tore up rookie ball (wouldn’t be an option to play there anymore) hitting .349 with a couple of home runs in 31 games.
They moved him up to Single-A Rome where he hit just .183 in 82 at-bats.
I was really excited to see how he would develop in 2020 playing a full season of pro ball, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
However, the Braves did think enough of him to include him at the alternate site this summer where he continued to impress.
His speed, arm strength, and hitting ability are what scouts love about him and why they believe he can be a true five-tool player.
He’ll turn 20 in March and that lost year of development really hurts — as it does any other prospect.
Harris will probably start the year back in Rome, which is now a High-A team, where he simply just needs to get more at-bats and playing time in the outfield.
Once he cleans up the mechanics of his swing a little bit and taps into his natural, raw power this guy is going to take off.
With Cristian Pache and Ian Anderson likely to move out of the prospect ranks soon for the Braves, you can be almost certain Harris will join the top 10 pretty quickly in the 2021 season.
Next. Rome Moving on Up. dark
With the toolset he has, I would not be surprised at all if he’s a top-five prospect for Atlanta by the end of next season.