#HIGHFIVE | Top 5 MLBbros (Week 19)

Atlanta Braves rookies “King” Vaughn Grissom and “Money” Michael Harris II have sparked the team over the last week and a half, leading them to an 8-2 record as they close in on the Mets for the top spot in the National League East.

1. Vaughn Grissom

Vaughn Grissom’s call-up makes him the second rookie MLBbro to join last year’s World Series Champion Atlanta Braves. The other one is Michael Harris II who was brought up at the end of May.

Harris II made himself a strong case to be named National League Rookie of The Year, but after Grissom’s first major league week, he has shown more than one young buck has game got in the ATL.

 

 

He made his debut at Fenway Park against the Red Sox last Wednesday. That day he became the youngest player in Major League history to hit a home run and steal a base. In his eight career games entering Thursday, Grissom is batting .414 with a .469 on base percentage, two homers, two steals and seven runs batted in. This weekend Grissom and the Braves will take on Dusty Baker’s Astros in a 2021 World Series rematch.

2. Michael Harris II

This week potential National League Rookie of the Year Michael Harris II signed an eight-year, $72 million deal with his hometown team, the Atlanta Braves.

Harris will be a part of a Braves young core that will be playing together until at least 2028. “Money Mike” could end up being the best out of the bunch.

This week, Harris II batted .280 with five RBI and two home runs, including a go-ahead shot in the top of the 8th inning in a game against the Marlins.

 

 

On the season Harris has 12 homers and 14 steals with hits in eight of his last nine games.

3. Byron Buxton

It feels like a long time coming, but we may finally get to see Byron Buxton playing meaningful baseball as Minnesota tries to get back to the playoffs and over the hump of the first round.

Buxton hit .310 this week with two steals and two home runs, but his biggest moment came on the defensive side of the ball. With runners on first and third with one out in the bottom of the 10th, Buxton made a diving catch before doubling off Ohtani at first.

Major League Baseball named it their Electric Play of the Week.

4. Tommy Pham

Tommy Pham got new life after being traded to the Red Sox and he is making the most of his opportunity.

Before joining Boston Tommy Pham’s most memorable moment this season came by way of his “slap heard round the world” to the face of Giants outfielder Joc Peterson.

This week Pham replaced that moment with a walk-off single in the 10th in the biggest rivalry in baseball – Yankees vs Red Sox.

“I wanted to end it, we don’t get paid for overtime,” Pham said to reporters after the game.

 

With the Red Sox still fighting for one of the three American League Wild Card spots, Pham will have plenty more chances to make himself a Boston legend coming down the stretch.

5. Josiah Gray

Josiah Gray struck out 10 batters in his Monday night start against the Cubs.

It was the fourth time in his career he reached the 10-strikeout mark and the third time he has done it in 2022.

Gray is one of the younger pitchers in the Majors and the future of the Washington Nationals.