Did you expect it to be someone else?
Since the All-Star break, Michael Harris II – who was one of the worst hitters in baseball this time last month – has done a complete 180 and has been one of the best hitters in the game for the past month.
Coming off of the Player’s Weekend that saw him use an amazing array of graphically embellished bats, he really should have had one of Bullet Bill, the character item in Mario Cart that could take a struggling racer from the back-of-the-pack to the top in a matter
of seconds. Because that’s what’s happened at the plate for Harris II.
Before getting back to Harris II, some kudos to staring pitchers Joey Wentz, Hurston Waldrep and Bryce Elder. All three starters were fantastic this week. The bullpen was excellent as well as Dylan Lee and Raisel Iglasias have both been pitching lights-out. A shout out to reliever Hunter Stratton who tossed three shut-out innings to pick-up the save Saturday night in only his third appearance with Atlanta.
Offensively, this week several of the best performing Braves hitters were many from the bottom of the line-up. Nick Allen, Nacho Alvarez, Jr. and Ozzie Albies, joined Harris II with multiple impactful games at the plate – Allen, who has yet to homer, drove several ball to or near the wall. Jurickson Profar also had a nice week from the lead-off spot.
But no one impacted the Braves winning five-of-the-six game they played this week like Harris II.
Battery Power Braves Player of the Week: Michael Harris II
Before ending with Sunday’s game in Cleveland, Michael Harris II had tied a Braves franchise record with multiple hits in eight-straight contest. With a 1.185 OPS during the week – no other Braves regular had an OPS higher than .900 – Harris has raised his season-long OPS to .688, up from .539 on July 10. That’s basically a .150 game in 30ish games, which is amazing this late in the season.
For the week, Harris collected 12 hits, including two doubles and two home runs. He drove in nine and scored six times and continues to be one of the best center fielders, defensively, in the game.
One of the highlights of the week was the home run Harris II crushed while using his Curious George bat on Saturday.
He’s up to 14 home runs and 14 stolen bases for the season and could end up with first 20/20 if he can finish the last six weeks of the regular season strong. That’s something Harris has yet to do in his career – he’s finished with 20 stolen bases twice but has yet to exceed 19 home runs.
There are few players in the game that are as fun to watch as Harris II when he’s playing like he has been for the last month.
Speaking for everyone, more of this, please.
