Ahead of their series with the Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves skipper Brian Snitker made a move that, at the time, raised a few eyebrows: he slid Michael Harris II down in the batting order. Yep, out of that leadoff spot and into the sixth and seventh hole. And let me tell you — it has been an absolute revelation.
A Hot Streak You Can’t Ignore
Before the change, Harris just wasn’t clicking at the top. It happens. Different spot, different mindset, different results. And boy, have the results come pouring in. Over his last 10 games, Harris is absolutely scorching — hitting a sizzling .350, racking up four extra-base hits, driving in nine runs, and swiping four bags like a man on a mission.
He has at least one hit in eight of those ten games, and you can guess the correlation: Braves win when Harris hits, and Braves stumble when he doesn’t. It’s that simple. Eight hits, eight wins. Two hitless nights? Two losses. That’s the heartbeat of a team right there.
And it’s not just the hits — it’s how he’s hitting. Only two strikeouts in his last 42 plate appearances! That’s a ridiculous 4.7% K-rate, and trust me, that’s rare air in today’s baseball world.
Numbers That Could Be History-Making
If you stretch out his current clip — 1.4 hits per game — over a full season, you’re talking about a 213-hit campaign. That’s elite company. Ronald Acuña Jr. did it with 217 hits during his MVP season. Before that? You’ve got to go back to Ender Inciarte in 2017. It just doesn’t happen often.
Let’s talk RBIs and steals because Harris is stuffing the stat sheet like a man possessed. During this recent stretch, he’s driving in nearly a run a game (0.9 to be exact) and stealing a base about every other day (0.4 per game). At that pace?
He’s flirting with 135 RBIs and nearly 60 steals by season’s end. Those are monster numbers that make opposing pitchers wake up in a cold sweat.
A Winning Formula the Braves Shouldn’t Mess With
Credit where it’s due: Harris has adjusted his approach at the plate. He’s being patient, seeing pitches, keeping things simple — all the hallmarks of a maturing hitter. And sometimes, baseball really is that straightforward. Some players see the ball better in certain lineup spots, and Harris at the bottom half has become pure magic for Atlanta.
Look, every manager dreams of having hitters who can climb the lineup. But when the machine is humming like this? You don’t mess with it. Harris thriving where he is makes the Braves lineup deeper, scarier, and a nightmare for any team trying to find an easy out.
If he eventually forces his way back to the top, great. That’s a luxury. Right now, though? You enjoy the ride.
