Monte Harrison’s Miami Mash Is Catching Up To His Elite Mitt

Monte Harrison’s Miami Mash Is Catching Up To His Elite Mitt

by | Jul 19, 2021 | THE THREE SPOT

Monte Harrison showed a glimpse of why Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly believes he has the chance to be the best defensive outfielder in the organization.

 


Marlins fans have had Harrison under the microscope for years and there’s pressure for him to show they gained something from losing their former Silver Slugger and MVP outfielder MVP Christian Yelich in the notorious trade. 

 

 

Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter has not shown great promise as a trade negotiator during his tenure as Marlins owner.

He dealt away Yelich to the Brewers in 2018 for Monte Harrison and three other prospects, who each have made little no impact in the Majors.

Yelich would go on to win the 2018 Most Valuable Player award and finish second in the voting in 2019.

Harrison was a three-sport athlete during his time at Lee’s Summit West High School in Missouri.

He had over 1,000 receiving yards and 26 total touchdowns while also averaging over 15 points a game on the basketball court.

 

Harrison was a four-star recruit and the 33rd ranked Wide Receiver in the nation. He committed to the University of Nebraska before being drafted out of high school by the Brewers in the second round of the 2014 draft.

During his first season in the Brewers system he stole 32 bases and hit .260 in 50 games.  

After being sent to Miami in 2018, he played for the Jacksonville Shrimp where he hit 19 home runs and stole 28 bases in 136 games.

That led to him being added to their 40-man roster.  He was named to the Futures All-Star game in 2019 where he hit .274 with nine home runs and 20 steals.

Harrison made his Major League debut August 3rd of 2020, but his play at the plate during his time in the Bigs has been subpar. His lack of opportunity has factored into his struggles.

He’s batting just .167 for his career over 53 at-bats, including a 1-for-7 clip season.

 

 

Harrison’s bat will come around, but what he has proven is that his glove is ready for prime time. 

Harrison gave us a web gem of the year submission on Saturday night, when he laid all out and made a diving catch down the right field line to save extra bases and keep a nail biter against the Phillies at a 1-1 tie.

 

 

Plays like this come as no surprise to Mattingly, who has been raving about Harrison for years.

“Monte Harrison will be the best outfield defender at whatever position he plays in the outfield,” said Mattingly.  “The fans of South Florida are going to love this guy.”

Monte Harrison and his brother Shaquille, who is a member of the Denver Nuggets are in a rare club of brothers in the MLB and NBA; that group includes Klay and Trayce Thompson.

 

“We just worked our butts off every single day,” said Harrison.  We were always those kids that got in trouble, got made fun of and little stuff like that.  People thought that we weren’t going to really be anything.  We both sat down and were in like, “We can be whatever we want to be, we’ve got to work for it.”

Harrison has been used mostly as a pinch hitter and runner during his time in the Majors this season but with the trade deadline approaching he may get a chance at consistent playing time sooner rather than later.