Two-time All-Star Josh Harrison wasted no time making an impact when he joined the Oakland Athletics in August.
The Athletics are fighting for a Wild Card spot and they acquired the multi-faceted Harrison to help them make that push.
Harrison has been in the league for a while and has established himself as a well-respected veteran.
My fellow brother Malik Wright had the opportunity to chop it up with Harrison about joining the Athletics and helping the team fight for a playoff spot.
One thing Harrison does not have a lot of is playoff experience.
During his career he’s only made three appearances in the postseason and his last appearance came in 2015 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Harrison has a .286 batting average in the playoffs with only two hits in seven at bats.
If the Athletics do make the postseason, Harrison will have an opportunity to make some noise unlike other seasons.
But the good thing is that Harrison has been impressive at the plate for the Athletics and this is the right time to do so.
Our MLBbro knows how to get the job done at the plate and in the field, he’ll just have to continue to do that, especially if the boys from Oakland make the postseason.
The 34-year-old can play any position in the field and he can play it well. Just know that whatever you need him to do, he’s most likely up to the task.
Through 29 games with the Athletics, Harrison is batting .291 with two home runs, eight RBI, and four stolen bases.
On the season, he has a .293 batting average with a .430 slugging percentage.
He’s a team guy all the way, which gives him high locker room value.
Josh Harrison and the A's aren't happy after Alek Manoah hits two straight batters
Starling Marte stayed in the game after this scary moment pic.twitter.com/OZy5Ncx16H
— The Rickey Henderson of Blogs (@RickeyBlog) September 4, 2021
When Harrison joined the Athletics, he knew he would be in a position to help this team make a playoff push.
Harrison has put together some key at bats in August and going into September. The utility man is on a three-game hitting streak and is looking to build off that as the season nears an end.
He’s had a lot of production at the leadoff spot for the Athletics and has put the team in multiple positions to win games.
“Well, part of it is the team’s looking for you to be a spark,” Harrison told Yahoo Sports. “Whether that’s get on base, having a good at-bat, you get a chance to get things started.”
As a leadoff hitter, the team expects you to do whatever you have to do to get in scoring position during the game.
You set the tone as a leadoff hitter and when you’re having success at the top of the lineup, good things will happen.
“At the end of the day, as long as we’re having good at-bats, one through nine and, as you mentioned, being the leadoff man, top of the order, getting things started, Oly came through a nice clutch double, Marte hit a home run,” Harrison said. “More than anything, it’s going to take one through nine, if we can jump out early and set with hitters up front, I think — I don’t want to say it makes the job easier — you still got to play 27 outs, it’s all about getting to that pitcher and getting to that bullpen.”
Every game is important for the Athletics and there’s no doubt that Harrison will continue to put the Athletics in a position to get into the postseason.
In his 11th season, Harrison still has the skillset to play at high level. There’s a reason why he’s still a hot commodity and why the Athletics sought out to acquire him.
It’s going to be a battle for the final two American League Wild Card spots and the Athletics are going to look for players like Harrison to help them emerge victorious.