#HIGHFIVE | The Record-Breaking, Money-Making MLBbros Of The Week

#HIGHFIVE | The Record-Breaking, Money-Making MLBbros Of The Week

by | Aug 11, 2023 | 6TH SLOT

“Money” Michael Harris II is like wine, getting better with time.  The second-year centerfielder for the Atlanta Braves is separating himself from the pack in the race for 2023 MLBbro.com Player of The Year thanks to him slashing .483/.515/.793 through the first few weeks of August and earning him the honor of being atop Week 18’s #HighFive List.

 

  1. “Money” Michael Harris

 

The 2023 Atlanta Braves offense gives off Golden State Warrior dynasty vibes. Just like when the Splash bros start knocking threes and scoring at will, the Braves offensive outburst can feel like an avalanche with no end in sight.

 

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The deepest lineup in baseball hit 200 home runs in their first 104 games this season, which is the second fastest a team has ever accomplished the feat in MLB history.

That total now stands at 215, 11 of which have come off the bat of the best nine-hole hitter in the game, “Money” Mike.

Last year’s National League Rookie of The Year has improved each month of the season. Over his last seven games, Harris is batting .462 with two home runs, five RBI, a .500 On Base Percentage and eight runs scored, including the game-winning run in the 8th inning of their Wednesday night win over Pittsburgh, where Harris tagged up and scored on a pop-fly to the second baseman.

 

“First he was telling me to tag, then he said fake it,” Harris said to reporters when they asked what third base coach Ron Washington told him during the play.

“In my head I was like “nah” I am getting to the plate and I am scoring the winning run.”

That win put the Braves five games ahead of the Dodgers for the best record in the National League heading into the weekend.

 

2. Mookie Betts

The most versatile player in the Majors claims the second spot on our #HighFive List in a week that was highlighted by a go-ahead grand slam Monday afternoon against the Padres.

 

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Betts now has five career grand slams when batting leadoff which is tied for the most since 1900 with Jose Altuve, Brian Roberts and a trio of MLBbros in Marcus Semien, George Springer and Detroit Tigers legend Curtis Granderson.

 

 

He is currently fourth in the MLB in both home runs with 31 and runs scored with 93.

 

3. JP Crawford 

J.P. Crawford is checking all boxes necessary to keep Seattle in contention for a wild card spot.

The Mariners were dead in the water before the All-Star Break.

The pitching staff has been solid throughout the season but now that their bats have come alive, they find themselves just two games out of the final American League Wild Card spot and have a 9-1 record over their last 10 games.

 

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A large portion of the credit for the Mariners resurgence can be attributed to Crawfords offense, defense and leadership over that span.

His .379 On Base Percentage is the third highest in the American League and his batting average over his last seven games is at .308 and he has one home run, which came on the first pitch of the game in their win Saturday afternoon over the Angels.

 

4. Marcus Semien

Despite being down four All-Stars since the All-Star Break, the Texas Rangers have followed Marcus Semien’s lead as they currently hold the best record in the American League West.

 

Along with fellow #HighFive member J.P. Crawford, Semien was named the Rangers recipient of the Heart & Hustle award for his work on the field and in the DFW community.


Last week Semien visited the Rangers Youth Academy and not only donated $5,000 for gear and apparel, but he also sat in the dugout with the team during their RBI tournament.

 

 He finished the week slashing .280/.419/.600 with two home runs, six walks and seven runs to stretch his American League leading total to 93.

 

5. Josh Bell

The Marlins made some of the biggest splashes over the trade deadline adding Jake Burger and Josh Bell to their squad and they already have been rewarded with a historic performance from one of their new additions.

Wednesday afternoon against the Reds, switch hitter and 2022 Silver Slugger winner Josh Bell became the first player in franchise history to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game.

It was a feat that Bell had not accomplished since he was 11-years old.

 

 

“I have been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Bell told reporters.

“I have had multi-home run games from the left and right side but I have not done both since I was 11-years old.  It feels good to get the win first and foremost but it is great to cross that off my bucket list.”

 

Since joining the Marlins, a week ago, Bell is hitting .306 with a 1.077 OPS, three home runs and seven RBI.