Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II Sends Important Reminder for 2026 Season

The Atlanta Braves are looking to have a bounce back season in 2026. If they are going to achieve that goal, they will need players who struggled in 2025 to get back on track. Michael Harris II is among those players, as he has found success in the past. For Harris, though, he does not feel like there's a different sense of urgency for the team heading into the '26 campaign, something he addressed on Saturday, via Reggie Chatman Jr. 

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"Every year we kind of have the same goal," Harris said. "I wouldn't say just because last year ended the way it did we have a different sense of urgency. We're going out there every year and trying to do the same thing."

The Braves finished the 2025 season with a 78-86 overall record. They finished in fourth place in the National League East as a result. For the most part, Atlanta has been a consistent contender over the years. There is no question that the Braves' 25 performance was surprising. 

Injuries played a role. Overall underperformance was undeniable, though. A big season from Harris in 2026 would be crucial for helping Atlanta return to the postseason.

Michael Harris II Hoping to Get Back on Track in 2026

Harris is only 24 years old, yet he's already spent four seasons in MLB. He won the National League Rookie of the Year in 2022. He's been up and down since, but his .249/.268/.409 slash line in 2026 was the worst mark of his career.

He was still able to have a 20-20 season, though. In fact, Harris' 20 home runs set a new career-high, while his 20 stolen bases tied his previous career-high. 

In 2025, he hit the ball in the air at a career-high rate, doing so 21.3 percent of the time. The approach explains his home run increase. However, Harris' 43.6 percent hard-hit rate represented the worst mark of his time in the big leagues.

Another concerning element of Harris' 2025 was his walk rate. From 2022-2024, Harris walked between 4.6 and 4.9 percent of the time in each season. Sure, he was not leading the league in on-base percentage, but Harris was consistent. Last season, though, Harris walked only 2.5 percent of the time. 

The Braves' felt the impact of Harris' career-worst .268 OPS, as his 55 runs scored was the lowest total of his time in MLB. 

If Harris can draw a few more walks and change some fly balls into hard line drives, he will bounce back in 2026.

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