After a disappointing season in 2025, the Atlanta Braves are back atop the major league standings, currently sitting with the best record in baseball at 45-21, as of Monday night.
Some of that comes with certain key players returning from injuries and unsung heroes finding success, but others, bouncing back from down years, have played a big role in Atlanta’s strong start.
Braves centerfielder Michael Harris II falls into that final bucket. The 25-year-old has been one of the best hitters at his position so far in 2026, just like he was when he took home NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2022.
During that season, Harris accumulated 4.7 fWAR in just 114 games, contributing with his bat, glove, and on the basepaths as Atlanta won 101 contests en route to a fifth straight NL East crown. Harris hit 19 homers, swiped 20 bags, and logged a 137 wRC+ as a 21-year-old who leapfrogged from Double-A to the big-league level.
It prompted the Braves to lock him up on an eight-year, $72 million contract that offseason, buying out Harris’ years of control and even a couple of free agency seasons.
Although his numbers would take a step back in his sophomore campaign, he was still an above-average player in all areas. But his production declined even further in the two subsequent seasons.
It reached a low point in the first half of 2025, when Harris was hitting .205 with a .539 OPS in his first 90 games, as he was one of the worst qualified hitters in the game at the time.
When the All-Star break came, it gave Harris time to step back and adjust his approach. The most notable differences were the location of his hands and opening up his stance, as he gradually raised them as the season progressed, more similar to his load when he stood in the box as a rookie. The switch yielded better results, with Harris hitting .302 and clubbing 14 homers in his final 70 games of the year, good for an .848 OPS.
With those changes intact, Harris has carried his momentum from the back half of last year into 2026 and built on it. His 140 wRC+ outpaces all qualified centerfielders, and his slashline of .306/.340/.523 is the highest of his five years in the Show.
Also on pace for career-bests in homers and runs batted in, Harris is on track for his best season at the plate yet.
An aggressive hitter, Harris doesn’t get burned despite being one of baseball’s most frequent chasers and rarely taking walks. When he makes contact, he does damage, sitting among the best in the league with his bat speed, barrel percentage, and hard-hit rate.
And in case it needed mentioning, Harris can go and get it out in the center, boasting the most defensive runs saved (31) at his position since he debuted.
Having a player who’s a plus on both sides of the ball is a luxury, and Harris is one of the Braves’ many examples, as they look to make a deep postseason run in October.
