Now that’s how you make some noise in Spring Training! Michael Harris II, who had been scuffling a bit at the plate, just reminded everyone exactly why he’s one of the game’s most exciting young center fielders. This is what you want to see if you are an Atlanta Braves fan.
And he did it in style—two home runs in the same inning? That kind of power surge makes you sit up and take notice.
A Power Surge in the Fifth Inning
Let’s set the scene: Braves vs. Orioles, a sunny Grapefruit League afternoon, and Harris steps up to lead off the top of the fifth. Boom! Solo shot, Braves up 3-0. Then, after Atlanta bats around, Harris gets another shot.
This time, a three-run blast that capped off a nine-run explosion, pushing the score to a dominant 11-0. That’s four RBIs in one inning for Harris—talk about flipping the script on what had been a slow spring for him.
Coming into the game, the 24-year-old was hitting just .143 in limited action. One big day at the plate, his spring numbers suddenly jumped to .200/.231/.440.
Sure, it’s just one game, but sometimes, all it takes is one breakout performance to get the momentum rolling. And if Harris is heating up, that’s great news for an already stacked Braves lineup.
Can Harris Take the Next Step?
Remember, Harris is coming off a bit of an up-and-down season. His final numbers—a .264 average, a .722 OPS, 16 homers, and 48 RBIs—weren’t bad, but they didn’t quite match the lofty expectations he set as a rookie.
Even so, MLB Network’s The Shredder still ranked him as the fourth-best center fielder in baseball. MLB.com even labeled him a dark horse MVP candidate, while Baseball America suggested he could be a first-time All-Star this season.
And there’s reason to believe that hype isn’t just talk. When Harris got healthy late last season, he looked like a different player. After returning from the Injured List, he slashed .283/.318/.506 over his final 43 games, with 11 homers and 28 RBIs. September was even better—he hit .316/.344/.579 with eight homers and 18 RBIs in the final month alone.
Over a full season, that kind of pace projects to 50 home runs and 112 RBIs. That is what people mean when they talk about his ceiling.
Signs of a Breakout With the Braves?
One good game in March doesn’t guarantee a monster 2024 campaign. But when a player like Harris starts launching balls out of the park, you have to wonder if he’s finding his groove. And if he is? Well, that just makes an already dangerous Braves lineup even scarier.
As for the game itself? Atlanta was cruising and beat the Orioles 13-5. But for Braves fans, the real story might be what Harris just showed—because if this is the beginning of a hot streak, opposing pitchers better take notice.
