{"id":59132,"date":"2023-06-30T11:00:45","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T15:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=59132"},"modified":"2023-06-29T23:12:29","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T03:12:29","slug":"michael-harris-ii-resurgence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/06\/30\/michael-harris-ii-resurgence\/","title":{"rendered":"The Resurgence of Michael Harris II"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nobody ever said being a professional baseball player was an easy job. It gets even tougher when one arrives at the highest level of the game, the major leagues. Then all of that pressure gets taken, stirred in a cauldron with young age, and produces something of a logistical nightmare. This is true in almost all of those situations\u2026unless the one under pressure happens to be Atlanta Braves<\/a> outfielder Michael Harris II. Harris, who is only 22, has experienced the roller coaster aspect of big league ball for the first time this year. His 2023 season has been populated more by the dips than the high-arching vaults where everyone has their hands up and is screaming in jubilation. However, through these low points, Harris has shown incredible perseverance and determination to return to form. The month of June has proven to be a resurgence for Michael Harris II.<\/p>\n

Certainly, this has not been a simple process. After all, Harris has had a lot to play up to. He\u2019s the defending National League Rookie of the Year. His .297 average in 2022 ranked second among NL rookies and third among all rookies. He had a wOBA of .368 and a wRC+ of 136, both of which were also second among NL rookies. The man who finished first, Joey Meneses, only played in 56 games to Michael Harris II\u2019s 114. So, the sample sizes were a bit skewed. However, Harris proved, at the age of 21, that the Braves weren\u2019t done bringing up young phenoms. At age 22, he\u2019s proven his resilience in the face of true adversity.<\/p>\n

[metabet_core_game_tile query=”530108″ size=”350×300″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”]<\/p>\n

The Resurgence of Michael Harris II<\/h2>\n

Finding Ways to Produce<\/h2>\n

For Michael Harris II, the name of the game has always been production. Braves fans have come to view him as the everyday nine-hole hitter. While this may sound like a demotion, his placement in the lineup affords Atlanta a true advantage. Since Ronald Acuna Jr. is hitting, ostensibly, \u201cbehind\u201d Harris, it\u2019s like having two leadoff hitters back-to-back. Consistent production is exactly what any manager wants out of a leadoff hitter, and since the Braves have \u201ctwo,\u201d people look to both Harris and Acuna to fill that role. For the first 50 or 60 games of the 2023 campaign<\/a>, Acuna was the only one doing this.<\/p>\n

Now, not all of the blame can be put on Michael Harris II. After all, he was dealing with two consecutive injuries (a bad back<\/a> and a jammed knee<\/a>). Then, he had to play with a brace on his leg that, according<\/a> to Mark Bowman, made things rather uncomfortable for the young star. As his body went, so went his offensive performance. He missed 20 games in April and then two more at the beginning of May. From May 6 (his return date) to May 31, he hit only .141 (10-for-71) with one homer, five runs scored, and 21 strikeouts. Concern for Michael Harris II was through the roof, and for good reason. The words \u201csophomore slump\u201d began to become more prevalent.<\/p>\n

The Resurrection of Michael Harris II<\/h2>\n

Upon entering the month of June, Michael Harris II carried a stat line that few would envy. He was slashing .174\/.260\/.266 \u00a0with an OPS of .526. His 19 hits, 12 runs scored, four doubles, and 29 strikeouts were a far cry from the phenom that had burst onto the scene in 2022. Certainly, they were not indicative of Harris\u2019s talents as a player. While his defense was still as spectacular as ever, the Braves sought more consistent offensive production from their ninth-place hitter. Once Harris got over his physical woes, the Braves got exactly what they wished for.<\/p>\n

June has been a revelation for the young center fielder. At the time of writing, he\u2019s slashing .368\/.385\/.632 with an OPS of 1.017. He\u2019s hit five homers and knocked in 14 runs while scoring 15 of his own. His 32 hits in the month are fifth<\/a> in the National League and second on the Braves. He\u2019s shown vast improvements in the advanced metrics as well. His wOBA (.429), fWAR (1.3), and wRC+ (170) are all top ten in the league. He\u2019s cut down on his strikeouts with great affinity. His strikeout percentage (13.2) is the seventh lowest in the league. In all these areas, Acuna has been almost in tandem. So it is fairly safe to say that the dynamic duo has returned.<\/p>\n

\n

Michael Harris II came into June 7 batting .163. After his 5th inning single, he’s now batting .268 for the Atlanta #Braves<\/a>, not the Gwinnett Stripers.<\/p>\n

What a 3 weeks it has been. pic.twitter.com\/juBjTpSt4A<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) June 28, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n