Runaway MLBbro Rookie of the Year Michael Harris II has been the mirror image of the Atlanta Braves the last few months. If not for the record breaking accomplishments of fellow MLBbro Aaron Judge in the American League for the Yankees, the miraculous Braves comeback to overcome the New York Mets for the National League East title would have dominated the newscycle in the Big Apple.
Our MLBbro Michael Harris II is on fire going into the postseason after collecting his third NL Rookie of the Month award in four months. Based on the stats for the month of September, Harris II is ready for the bright lights of the October postseason.
The odds on favorite for NL Rookie of the Year had a batting average of .324 with six home runs, 19 RBI, five doubles with four steals in the month of September spearheading a 20-8 run to overtake the Mets for the division title. His 10 multi-hit games (two games being three hit gems), a .569 slugging coupled with Gold Glove level defense on most months adds up to hardware.
Harris II has been so dominant among rookies this season, it’s easy to forget that he didn’t even start the season on Atlanta’s main roster. He was promoted from Double-A back on May 31st. Sure Trayce Thompson is considered a steal to the point his nickname is “Cash Considerations” but no team is getting a better value from a player that gets the prorated amount of the league minimum ($700,000) adding up to less than $500,000.
Overall, the NL Rookie of the Year race has taken on an “Aaron Judge vs. Shohei Ohtani” vibe as his teammate Spencer Strider has been named as a candidate due to his record breaking accomplishment of being the fastest rookie pitcher to reach 200 strikeouts topping Randy Johnson.
But our MLBbro probably ended the race at the beginning of September by adding to a hitting streak that started the previous month with seven games to nab the second longest streak by a Braves rookie with 15. The only rookie in franchise history that is ahead of him is Freddie Freeman who notched a 20 game hitting streak in 2011.
Overall, Michael Harris II finished the season hitting .297 with 19 home runs and 64 RBI which kept him just short of the 20/20 club (20 home runs and 20 stolen bases) which would have been a shoo-in if he got to play a full season.
Can our MLBbro win the NL Rookie of the Year award in less than a full season? Well it’s time for a MLBbro.com history lesson. MLBbro icon Willie McCovey won the award back in 1959 with the San Francisco Giants while playing only 52 games.
Soon there could be two MLBbros making history only known to black and brown players.
Michael Harris II gave us the blueprint on why he will be one of baseball’s best outfielders for years to come as he won the National League Rookie of the Month award in his first full month as a Big Leaguer.
Michael Harris II is currently the youngest player in Major League Baseball but showed he brings a grown man’s game to the ballpark over the first month of his career.
The Braves’ top prospect entering the 2022 season won the National League Rookie of the Month award for his play during the month of June, posting a .347 average with four home runs, 16 RBI, four steals, seven doubles, two triples and a slugging percentage of .574.
“I feel like as soon as he came up here, he kind of changed the whole complexion of our team,” said Braves pitcher Kyle Wright on Harris’ impact on last season’s World Series Champions.
Harris II became the Braves’ everyday center fielder when he was called up to the Majors on May 28, and since that day he has arguably been the best outfield defender in the game.
His filling Atlanta’s void in center has not only given fans a glimpse of an outfield that will have Harris II standing next to All-Star Ronald Acuna Jr. for years to come.
Acuna, who tore his ACL last season, can rely on Harris to cover extra ground while he continues to work to get his feet back under him.
Harris II won a Minor League Gold Glove last season, and now it looks like he is on the fast track to earning one at the Major League level.
“It is definitely something I would want,” said Harris when asked about winning a Gold Glove. “It would be better to have a Platinum Glove though.”
In the words of Braves third base coach Ron Washington, “You play to win the game,” and since he got to the Majors that is all Harris II has helped the Braves do.
He is tied for first among National League rookies in WAR and since being added to the main roster his Braves have gone from over 10 games back of their division rival Mets to now 2.5 entering Sunday.
At the plate Harris II is having one of the best starts to a career for any rookie in Braves history.
Bryson Stott tries to block the base, but Michael Harris forces his hand onto it causing the second baseman to fall down. pic.twitter.com/DHJJjvOveI
His .327 average was the highest through a player’s first 31 games by a Braves hitter since 2011, he was the first rookie to homer in back-to-back games for the team since 2019 and his eight-game hitting streak was the longest for a Braves rookie since 2018.
I know teams are developing scouting reports on Harris II with each passing day, but if he can sustain his level of play through this season the Braves will essentially gain another All-Star in what is already one of the most stacked lineups in the Majors.
This season Harris is batting .308 with 18 RBI, 21 runs, four home runs, four steals and an .841 OPS.
He and his Braves are set for a four-game series to start their week beginning with a Fourth of July matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals.
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