The Atlanta Braves flexed their collective muscle in the first half of the season, powering their way to the best record in baseball (57-27) and the National League home run record for a single month. That dominance was emulated in their National League-leading eight All-Star Game representatives.
Following an injury to the Arizona Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll earlier this week, John Fricke sees an avenue for the Braves to add a ninth player to the National League roster.
"Eight Braves [are] on the All-Star team," Fricke said about the current group before expanding on how they could add another. "There is an outside chance of a ninth Brave, that Michael Harris could be added to the team because Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks has a shoulder injury. We'll see if he's able to bounce back, and if he's not, then they're going to fill that spot in center field, and I don't know who else you'd go to."
Michael Harris had a slow start to the season, struggling through injuries and a slash line of .177/.259/.281, 29 strikeouts, and only eight RBIs and two home runs through his first 30 games of the season. At the time, fans were worried that he was in the midst of a sophomore slump after taking the league by storm in his rookie season.
Then came the month of June.
The 22-year-old phenom reminded us all of who he was and exploded with one of the best individual months of any player in Major League Baseball this season. He slashed .372/.388/.617 with 14 RBIs, 17 runs scored, and five home runs. He completely turned his season around.
"In any other world, Michael Harris is the player of the month in the National League in June," John said about Michael Harris' incredible month. "But we’re not in any other world. It's a world where Ronald Acuña also happens to be on this team!"
And we all know what kind of dude Ronald Acuña Jr. is and what sort of month he had.
Corbin Carroll was a clear choice to represent the National League in center field, but if his injury persists then there is no reason why Michael Harris wouldn't be his injury replacement in Seattle.