Henry County Schools celebrated the breakout Braves player with “Michael Harris II Day” Tuesday. Harris is an alumna of Stockbridge High School. Not to belabor the obvious, but, as reported, Harris had a “monumental year.” In his Major League Baseball debut, Harris earned the “Rookie of the Year” title. On Tuesday, February 7th, Henry County honored the national league rookie of the year with his own “day.”
While his achievements on the baseball field are self-evident, combined with his success in the classroom, as reported, “now serve as inspiration to players who run on this field in Harris’ footsteps.” It is alleged that Harris “even caused his former coach, a Metz (Mets?) fan, to switch teams.”
The county’s board of education and dozens of people from all three of Harris’ former schools flooded the field to say “job well done.” Harris was humbled. “I was teary-eyed when I saw the signs on the street,” he said.
Some background information helps illuminate the trajectory of Harris’ career to date. Born March 7, 2001, Michael Machion Harris II is now an American professional baseball outfielder for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Braves in the third round of the 2019 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut with them in 2022. He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
Dr. LaTaucha Harris, Harris’ mother, worked for the Fulton County School System. His father, Michael Harris Sr. played college baseball at Alcorn State. He grew up near Turner Field and wanted to play for the Atlanta Braves since he was a young child. As a high schooler, as reported on Wikipedia, he was coached by family friend Marquis Grissom in summer leagues and received further training from Grissom during the off seasons.
He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. Harris signed with the Braves for a bonus of $548,000, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at Texas Tech University, as well as a desire to attend veterinary school. Harris made his major league debut on May 28, 2022 against the Miami Marlins.
As reported, the city expects even greater things from the Braves outfielder. Stockbridge mayor Anthony Ford exclaimed: “Can I say that we’re looking forward to a national MVP– that’s a tall order, but you can handle it!” On August 17, the Braves and Harris agreed to an eight-year contract extension worth at least $72 million. On November 14, Harris was named the 2022 National League Rookie of the Year.
