This development is critical for the Atlanta Braves in 2026

Other than health, there might not be a more important storyline for the Braves‘ second half than Michael Harris II bouncing back from an awful start to the season.

At one point, the former Rookie of the Year was hitting right at the Mendoza Line with a .539 OPS, concerning everyone in Atlanta that perhaps the talented Stockbridge native might never break out of this slump. Then, a change at the plate turned everything around.

“I put my hands back up, I guess, above my head, by my ears, like I did when I first got called up,” Harris told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I’ve done that my whole life. My hands have always been high, so it’s kind of a natural thing to go back to.”

Since that change, Harris has won National League Player of the Week honors while hitting .367 with four doubles, two triples, and two home runs over 13 games, all of that good for a 1.118 OPS. That doesn’t include a three-hit performance, one of which was a triple, against the Royals on Tuesday night.

After being one of the least effective everyday players through mid-July, Michael Harris is finally starting to see a change.

“It’s good to see work paying off,” Harris said. “I feel like it’s long overdue. Obviously, wanted this to happen sooner, but really grateful that I was able to put in the work and it’s starting to show now.”

The Braves have a ton of work to do this offseason to get this roster back to World Series-caliber. The starting rotation needs a lot of resources thrown at it, especially with Grant Holmes and A.J. Smith-Shawver likely out for 2026. The bullpen needs a closer and maybe multiple high-leverage arms, depending on how the trade deadline goes.

That doesn’t even include the lineup, which needs at least a couple of more bats. If Michael Harris II proves the first half of this season was an anomaly, it’ll go a long way in the Braves’ hopes of returning to postseason contention.

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