Michael Harris II Bio
Michael Machion Harris II is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on March 7, 2001, he joined the Braves organization after being selected in the third round of the 2019 MLB draft and made his major league debut during the 2022 season. That same year, he captured the National League Rookie of the Year Award, establishing himself as one of the most promising young outfielders in the game.
After his standout rookie campaign, Harris signed a long-term extension with Atlanta, securing his place as a cornerstone of the franchise. He continues to patrol center field for the Braves, contributing on offense, defense, and the base paths.
Early Life and Background
Michael Machion Harris II was born to Michael Harris Sr. and LaTaucha Harris. His mother worked for the Fulton County School System as a special education teacher, and his father played college baseball at Alcorn State. He has a sister named Mikaylah.
Harris grew up near Turner Field in the Atlanta area and spent his childhood in DeKalb and Henry counties in Georgia. From a young age, he dreamed of playing for the Atlanta Braves, the team he would eventually join. He attended Stockbridge High School in Stockbridge, Georgia, where he developed his baseball skills and began attracting attention from scouts.
During his teenage years, Harris played summer league baseball and received offseason training from family friend and former MLB outfielder Marquis Grissom, who served as a key mentor throughout his amateur development.
Path to Baseball
Coming out of Stockbridge High School, Harris was regarded as a talented two-way prospect. Before committing to play college baseball at Texas Tech University, he had been recruited by the Louisiana State Tigers baseball program as a pitcher, reflecting his early arm strength. Ultimately, his dream of joining the Braves led him in a different direction.
In the 2019 MLB draft, the Atlanta Braves selected Harris in the third round. He signed with the club for a signing bonus of $548,000, choosing professional baseball over both his college commitment and an interest in attending veterinary school. He began his pro career that same year, climbing steadily through Atlanta’s farm system.
Michael Harris II Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Harris opened his professional career with the Gulf Coast Braves before earning a promotion to the Rome Braves. Over 53 games between the two affiliates in 2019, he batted .277 with two home runs and 27 runs batted in, demonstrating a patient approach and emerging power. The 2020 minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, costing him a full year of development.
He returned to action in 2021, spending the season with the Rome Braves. Harris slashed .294/.362/.436 with seven home runs, 64 runs batted in, and 27 stolen bases, showing off his speed and on-base ability. That June, he was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game, a clear sign of his prospect status. He was invited to Braves spring training both in 2021 and again in 2022.
Atlanta Braves Debut and Rookie Year (2022)
On May 28, 2022, the Braves selected Harris to the major league roster, and he made his debut that same day against the Miami Marlins. He struck out in his first at-bat but soon recorded his first hit, a single, and scored his first run. He drove in his first career run against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 31, and on June 13, he hit his first career home run off the Washington Nationals.
During June, Harris batted .347 with 13 extra-base hits among his 35 hits, drove in 16 runs, stole four bases, and earned the NL Rookie of the Month Award. On August 17, Atlanta locked up his future, agreeing with Harris on an eight-year contract extension worth at least $72 million. He went on to claim Rookie of the Month honors in August and September, capping a remarkable first season. On November 14, 2022, he was named the National League Rookie of the Year, finishing ahead of teammate Spencer Strider. Harris and Strider were the second pair of Braves to finish first and second in the voting, following Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman in 2011. Harris dedicated the award to his childhood mentor, Marquis Grissom.
Sophomore and Junior Seasons (2023–2024)
Harris played 138 games for the Braves during the 2023 campaign, slashing .293/.331/.477 with 18 home runs, 57 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. He continued to show the combination of contact, power, and speed that defined his rookie year, and he remained a fixture in center field.
He began the 2024 campaign with Atlanta and played 67 games, hitting .250/.295/.358 with five home runs, 20 RBI, and eight stolen bases. On June 15, he was placed on the injured list with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, and he was later transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 24. Harris was activated on August 14 and promptly hit his first career grand slam off San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray. The blast landed in McCovey Cove, making Harris the first visiting player to hit the water with a grand slam.
Notable Events and Milestones
Harris’s debut on May 28, 2022, marked the arrival of a long-anticipated homegrown talent. His first career grand slam on August 14, 2024, which landed in McCovey Cove, became an instant signature moment, as he became the first visiting player to accomplish that feat. His eight-year, $72 million contract extension signed in August 2022 underscored the Braves’ belief in his long-term potential.
Michael Harris II Career Wins and Performances
Through the 2024 season, Harris has built a strong résumé as a complete center fielder, contributing with his bat, his glove, and his legs. While individual game win totals vary by source, his impact is measured by his consistent presence in the Braves’ everyday lineup and his list of postseason and award achievements.
MLB Highlights
Harris’s most celebrated individual achievement came in his rookie year, when he was unanimously recognized as the National League’s top first-year player. He earned the NL Rookie of the Month Award three times in 2022, a rare feat that highlighted his sustained excellence. In 2023, he appeared in 138 games and posted a .293 batting average with 18 home runs, reinforcing his value as a middle-of-the-order bat and everyday defender.
In 2024, his season was interrupted by a hamstring injury, but he returned to deliver one of the year’s most memorable moments with a grand slam into McCovey Cove. That home run cemented his reputation for delivering in high-profile situations.
Minor League Highlights
Harris starred in the minor leagues, including a .294/.362/.436 line in 2021 at Rome, where he also earned an All-Star Futures Game selection. In 2022, he slashed .305/.372/.506 with five home runs, 33 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 43 games at Mississippi before his call-up, and he was ranked the 63rd-best prospect in all of Minor League Baseball and the Braves’ top prospect at the time of his promotion.
Michael Harris II Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Michael Harris II is the son of Michael Harris Sr. and LaTaucha Harris. His father played college baseball at Alcorn State, helping shape Harris’s early connection to the game. His mother worked as a special education teacher in the Fulton County School System. He also has a sister, Mikaylah.
Harris married his wife, Esther, in 2024. The couple began dating in 2021, and Esther has been a steady presence throughout his rise to the major leagues.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Michael Harris II remains the Braves’ starting center fielder and a key piece of their long-term core, locked in through the 2029 season. Coming off a 2024 campaign that was shortened by a hamstring injury, he is expected to play a full season and reestablish his offensive rhythm. Through June 21, 2026, his career MLB line stands at .277 with 87 home runs, 296 runs batted in, and 74 stolen bases, reflecting his well-rounded production.
Atlanta’s playoff outlook is closely tied to Harris’s ability to anchor the outfield and provide lineup protection. His combination of speed, power, and defensive range makes him a daily difference-maker. If he stays healthy and continues his upward trajectory, Harris is positioned to remain one of the National League’s most complete young center fielders for years to come.
