From June 7th to June 13th it looked like Michael Harris II was beginning to turn things around from behind the plate. The Braves’ center fielder was getting the ball in the air more, and in that span he homered 3 times in 6 games, including homering in back to back games June 11th against the Brewers and June 13th versus the Rockies.
However, Money Mike hasn’t been cashing in as of late and is slumping again, going 3-for-30 with one extra-base hit in the past eight games to sink his average to .223 and OPS to .585, which is the seventh-lowest OPS among all MLB qualifiers.
Earlier today The Morning Shift discussed whether or not Harris II should be sent down to Triple-A to “reset”, or if his gold glove caliber defense out in center field is too good to lose despite the struggles he’s having with his bat right now.
“I’m actually on team send Michael Harris to the minors for a little bit, and I don’t think that does anything for you in the short term, I’m starting to worry about his career. I’m starting to worry about the longevity of his career, and I think he needs a reset button.”
“He swings at so many freaking bad pitches plate appearance after plate appearance after plate appearance he swings at balls outside of the zone to where it makes me want to puke, and so yeah a reset for him I’d be fine with that. I know you might be losing something in the outfield, but at a certain point I start worrying about the longevity of the guy himself who you owe a lot of money to over the next five years.” Mike Johnson said
On the other hand Beau Morgan thinks with Alex Verdugo being a bit of a liability or weak spot in the outfield that the Braves can’t afford to lose what Harris II brings defensively.
“You need Michael Harris to be able to cheat over to left field and help out, and he does, so that’s to me part of it.”
Michael Harris currently has the worst on-base percentage, .248, among all MLB qualifiers by 5 full points. Harris has not drawn a walk in 29 games, that’s 113 plate appearances, and he’s also struck out 26 times in that span. Harris II only has drawn 10 walks all season and only three MLB qualifiers have fewer.
Now, Harris is also a part of a Braves defense that has saved 55 runs this season, and he’s saved six of those 55 himself, so while his glove has saved the Braves on many occasions not only this season, but throughout his young career his bat is so bad right now that you can at least make the argument that his gold glove caliber defense isn’t worth having because his bat is so bad right now, and that’s needs to change right away if the Braves want to make a run at the postseason.