Michael Harris

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #1 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Most of the scouting industry seemed to prefer Harris as a lefthanded pitcher out of Stockbridge (Ga.) in 2019. He touched 93 mph with his fastball and showed feel to spin a big curveball. Harris preferred hitting, though, and the Braves liked his upside enough as a position player to give him a chance with the bat. They drafted him in the third round as an outfielder and signed him for $547,500 to forgo a Texas Tech commitment. After flashing solid tools in his pro debut after signing, Harris impressed Braves officials in 2020 with quality at-bats against many of the team’s top pitching prospects at the alternate training site. He carried that into 2021 with a breakout season at High-A Rome, finishing among the Braves organization leaders in hits (110), doubles (26), RBIs (67), stolen bases (27) and earning a selection to the Futures Game.
  
  Scouting Report: Harris has developed rapidly into the consensus best pure hitter in the Braves’ system. Officially listed by Major League Baseball as a switch-hitter, he took all his swings from the left side in 2021 and shows impressive feel to hit with loose wrists, easy hands and impressive plate coverage. Harris’ plate coverage is so good that he gives away at-bats at times by being overly aggressive and chasing balls he can’t drive, but he identifies pitches well. When he focused on eliminating his chases on the inner half during the second half of the season, his on-base percentage shot up to .400 over the final two months. Harris has plenty of strength in his filled-out frame and drops the bat head with force throughout the zone. He routinely produces exit velocities in the 110-114 mph range, and while he hit just seven home runs this year, he played his home games in one of the toughest offensive environments in minor league baseball. All of his seven home runs came on the road, and his home (.282/.361/.363) and road (.305/.363/.498) splits suggest above-average power potential his overall numbers might not indicate. Harris combines that power potential with plus speed and aggressive baserunning that make him a dangerous stolen base threat. In addition to his offensive prowess, Harris was voted the best defensive outfielder in High-A East by league managers. He draws praise for his instincts and ability in center field and could be an above-average or plus defender at the position if he maintains his plus speed. His thicker lower half and filled-out frame raise the possibility he will slow down in the future, but he should remain an above-average defender even if he has to eventually move to a corner outfield spot. His plus arm strength will play at any position.
  
  The Future: With above-average or better tools across the board, Harris has a chance to be an impact, everyday big leaguer. He will move to Double-A Mississippi in 2022, where the Braves would like to see him continue to mature as a hitter. His defense gives him a shot to be a very well-rounded player.
  
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #11 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: An athletic, two-way player out of Stockbridge High just south of Atlanta, Harris preferred hitting and the Braves liked his upside enough to draft him in the third round as a position player. After showing exciting tools in 2019, Harris spent 2020 at the alternate training site working to improve his offensive approach.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Harris faced some of the team's top pitching prospects at the alternate site and impressed with the quality of his at-bats. He has above-average power potential and a chance to be an above-average hitter as well, though he has holes in his swing he will need to close against upper-level pitching. A solid athlete who is an above-average runner underway, Harris has spent most of his time in center and right field. He ultimately projects to be a right fielder with plenty of arm strength for the position.
  
  THE FUTURE: Harris is one of the organization's most exciting lower-level prospects. He is slated to begin 2021 at one of the Class A levels.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #13 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Scouts liked the athletic Harris as a lefthanded pitcher and as a hitter prior to the 2019 draft. Harris preferred hitting and the Braves drafted him in the third round and let him do that exclusively in his debut, where he impressed with a toolsy, high-upside profile.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Harris might have the most exciting collection of tools in Atlanta's system outside of their top 10 prospects. A switch-hitter, Harris has above-average raw power with impressive bat speed, above-average running ability underway and easy plus arm strength that gives him a chance to be a plus defender in right field. He will need to shorten a swing that gets lengthy at times, with significant wrap, and clean up some of the holes in his swing. Moving forward, Harris will need to refine his approach and learn to trust his natural strength and bat speed to get the most out of his natural tools at the plate.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Braves will look for Harris to add strength and return to the South Atlantic League in 2020. His focus will be on developing a professional approach at the plate.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #248 prospect in 2019 draft
  Harris is an athletic, two-way player with legitimate pro potential on both sides of the ball. On the mound, the 6-foot, 195-pound lefty has been up to who is up to 93 mph on the mound and has shown some feel to spin a big curveball that has shape and depth but lacks power presently. He sits in the 88-92 mph range but the velocity has been up and down this spring. His ceiling is higher on the mound, but Harris seems to prefer hitting, where he is a plus runner and can chase them down well in center field, with above-average bat speed from the left side and raw power. There are questions about the quality of his hit tool, and if Harris wants to hit at the next level he might have to prove it first at Texas Tech.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #4 prospect in 2021
  The 2019 third-rounder came into the season with high expectations after a standout spring training. Harris turned in a performance that matched his lofty tools by hitting .294/.362/.436 with seven home runs and 27 stolen bases in 31 attempts in his first full pro year. Harris impressed league managers with his bat-to-ball skills, baserunning ability, defense and arm strength, and he has exhibited impressive plus raw power in batting practice that should eventually lead to more homers in games. Harris was voted the league’s top defensive outfielder by managers, as well as having the best arm, a 60-grade tool. With five above-average or better tools, Harris has as good of a skill set as any prospect in the league. “It’s scary to see what this kid can turn into . . . He makes everything look easy,” Rome manager Kanekoa Texeira said.
• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #15 prospect in 2019
  Harris was a two-way player in high school, and while a lot of scouts thought he had more upside on the mound, the Braves drafted Harris in the third round (98th overall) an outfielder, then signed him for $547,500. Despite skepticism about his pure hitting ability as an amateur, Harris was one of the top offensive performers in the GCL, to the point where he earned a promotion to low Class A Rome in August for the final three weeks of the season. A Braves fan growing up in Georgia, Harris has quick bat speed and makes consistent hard contact. He showed a more advanced offensive approach than anticipated in the GCL, barreling balls consistently. Harris is an athletic center fielder with plus speed, running down balls with ease and showing a strong arm with a short throwing stroke.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #46 prospect in 2022

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Most of the scouting industry seemed to prefer Harris as a lefthanded pitcher out of Stockbridge (Ga.) in 2019. He touched 93 mph with his fastball and showed feel to spin a big curveball. Harris preferred hitting, though, and the Braves liked his upside enough as a position player to give him a chance with the bat. They drafted him in the third round as an outfielder and signed him for $547,500 to forgo a Texas Tech commitment. After flashing solid tools in his pro debut after signing, Harris impressed Braves officials in 2020 with quality at-bats against many of the team’s top pitching prospects at the alternate training site. He carried that into 2021 with a breakout season at High-A Rome, finishing among the Braves organization leaders in hits (110), doubles (26), RBIs (67), stolen bases (27) and earning a selection to the Futures Game.
  
  Scouting Report: Harris has developed rapidly into the consensus best pure hitter in the Braves’ system. Officially listed by Major League Baseball as a switch-hitter, he took all his swings from the left side in 2021 and shows impressive feel to hit with loose wrists, easy hands and impressive plate coverage. Harris’ plate coverage is so good that he gives away at-bats at times by being overly aggressive and chasing balls he can’t drive, but he identifies pitches well. When he focused on eliminating his chases on the inner half during the second half of the season, his on-base percentage shot up to .400 over the final two months. Harris has plenty of strength in his filled-out frame and drops the bat head with force throughout the zone. He routinely produces exit velocities in the 110-114 mph range, and while he hit just seven home runs this year, he played his home games in one of the toughest offensive environments in minor league baseball. All of his seven home runs came on the road, and his home (.282/.361/.363) and road (.305/.363/.498) splits suggest above-average power potential his overall numbers might not indicate. Harris combines that power potential with plus speed and aggressive baserunning that make him a dangerous stolen base threat. In addition to his offensive prowess, Harris was voted the best defensive outfielder in High-A East by league managers. He draws praise for his instincts and ability in center field and could be an above-average or plus defender at the position if he maintains his plus speed. His thicker lower half and filled-out frame raise the possibility he will slow down in the future, but he should remain an above-average defender even if he has to eventually move to a corner outfield spot. His plus arm strength will play at any position.
  
  The Future: With above-average or better tools across the board, Harris has a chance to be an impact, everyday big leaguer. He will move to Double-A Mississippi in 2022, where the Braves would like to see him continue to mature as a hitter. His defense gives him a shot to be a very well-rounded player.
  
• October, 2021 Scouting Report
  The 2019 third-rounder came into the season with high expectations after a standout spring training. Harris turned in a performance that matched his lofty tools by hitting .294/.362/.436 with seven home runs and 27 stolen bases in 31 attempts in his first full pro year. Harris impressed league managers with his bat-to-ball skills, baserunning ability, defense and arm strength, and he has exhibited impressive plus raw power in batting practice that should eventually lead to more homers in games. Harris was voted the league’s top defensive outfielder by managers, as well as having the best arm, a 60-grade tool. With five above-average or better tools, Harris has as good of a skill set as any prospect in the league. “It’s scary to see what this kid can turn into . . . He makes everything look easy,” Rome manager Kanekoa Texeira said.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: An athletic, two-way player out of Stockbridge High just south of Atlanta, Harris preferred hitting and the Braves liked his upside enough to draft him in the third round as a position player. After showing exciting tools in 2019, Harris spent 2020 at the alternate training site working to improve his offensive approach.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Harris faced some of the team's top pitching prospects at the alternate site and impressed with the quality of his at-bats. He has above-average power potential and a chance to be an above-average hitter as well, though he has holes in his swing he will need to close against upper-level pitching. A solid athlete who is an above-average runner underway, Harris has spent most of his time in center and right field. He ultimately projects to be a right fielder with plenty of arm strength for the position.
  
  THE FUTURE: Harris is one of the organization's most exciting lower-level prospects. He is slated to begin 2021 at one of the Class A levels.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: An athletic, two-way player out of Stockbridge High just south of Atlanta, Harris preferred hitting and the Braves liked his upside enough to draft him in the third round as a position player. After showing exciting tools in 2019, Harris spent 2020 at the alternate training site working to improve his offensive approach.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Harris faced some of the team's top pitching prospects at the alternate site and impressed with the quality of his at-bats. He has above-average power potential and a chance to be an above-average hitter as well, though he has holes in his swing he will need to close against upper-level pitching. A solid athlete who is an above-average runner underway, Harris has spent most of his time in center and right field. He ultimately projects to be a right fielder with plenty of arm strength for the position.
  
  THE FUTURE: Harris is one of the organization's most exciting lower-level prospects. He is slated to begin 2021 at one of the Class A levels.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: An athletic, two-way player out of Stockbridge High just south of Atlanta, Harris preferred hitting and the Braves liked his upside enough to draft him in the third round as a position player. After showing exciting tools in 2019, Harris spent 2020 at the alternate training site working to improve his offensive approach.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Harris faced some of the team's top pitching prospects at the alternate site and impressed with the quality of his at-bats. He has above-average power potential and a chance to be an above-average hitter as well, though he has holes in his swing he will need to close against upper-level pitching. A solid athlete who is an above-average runner underway, Harris has spent most of his time in center and right field. He ultimately projects to be a right fielder with plenty of arm strength for the position.
  
  THE FUTURE: Harris is one of the organization's most exciting lower-level prospects. He is slated to begin 2021 at one of the Class A levels.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Scouts liked the athletic Harris as a lefthanded pitcher and as a hitter prior to the 2019 draft. Harris preferred hitting and the Braves drafted him in the third round and let him do that exclusively in his debut, where he impressed with a toolsy, high-upside profile.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Harris might have the most exciting collection of tools in Atlanta’s system outside of their top 10 prospects. A switch-hitter, Harris has above-average raw power with impressive bat speed, above-average running ability underway and easy plus arm strength that gives him a chance to be a plus defender in right field. He will need to shorten a swing that gets lengthy at times, with significant wrap, and clean up some of the holes in his swing. Moving forward, Harris will need to refine his approach and learn to trust his natural strength and bat speed to get the most out of his natural tools at the plate.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Braves will look for Harris to add strength and return to the South Atlantic League in 2020. His focus will be on developing a professional approach at the plate.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Scouts liked the athletic Harris as a lefthanded pitcher and as a hitter prior to the 2019 draft. Harris preferred hitting and the Braves drafted him in the third round and let him do that exclusively in his debut, where he impressed with a toolsy, high-upside profile.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Harris might have the most exciting collection of tools in Atlanta's system outside of their top 10 prospects. A switch-hitter, Harris has above-average raw power with impressive bat speed, above-average running ability underway and easy plus arm strength that gives him a chance to be a plus defender in right field. He will need to shorten a swing that gets lengthy at times, with significant wrap, and clean up some of the holes in his swing. Moving forward, Harris will need to refine his approach and learn to trust his natural strength and bat speed to get the most out of his natural tools at the plate.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Braves will look for Harris to add strength and return to the South Atlantic League in 2020. His focus will be on developing a professional approach at the plate.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Harris was a two-way player in high school, and while a lot of scouts thought he had more upside on the mound, the Braves drafted Harris in the third round (98th overall) an outfielder, then signed him for $547,500. Despite skepticism about his pure hitting ability as an amateur, Harris was one of the top offensive performers in the GCL, to the point where he earned a promotion to low Class A Rome in August for the final three weeks of the season. A Braves fan growing up in Georgia, Harris has quick bat speed and makes consistent hard contact. He showed a more advanced offensive approach than anticipated in the GCL, barreling balls consistently. Harris is an athletic center fielder with plus speed, running down balls with ease and showing a strong arm with a short throwing stroke.