Braves hitting coach downplays dreadful Michael Harris II slump

Michael Harris II is just three years removed from winning the National League Rookie of the Year award with the Atlanta Braves, and just last year, he hit a respectable .264 with an OPS right around the league average. That’s why his woeful offensive numbers this year are so shocking — and why Braves hitting coach Tim Hyers is optimistic he can turn it around.

“I think if he can hold his posture, clean up a few things mechanically and then get back to getting balls in the strike zone, I think this thing can turn around in a heartbeat,” Hyers said, via Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat newsletter. “He has it in him. He’s super talented.”

Harris has shown that talent before, particularly as a rookie when he hit for an .853 OPS. Through 82 games in 2025, however, he is hitting .212 with a should-be-impossible .238 on-base percentage, largely due to a 3.1 percent walk rate. His OPS+ is only 55 and he has a 50 wRC+.

His troubles have only compounded in June. Since the start of the month, he is hitting .148 with 25 strikeouts, no walks and four extra-base hits. To make matters worse, the Braves are 9-14 in that time and fading out of contention fast.

Article Continues Below“I’ve had times in the past where I was struggling, but came out of a little quicker than right now,” Harris said. “So yeah, us losing and being in this situation isn’t the best. But, still got three months left.”

Harris also admitted that plate discipline has been a problem. Aside from his inability to draw walks, which has never been his strength, his hard-hit rate is down 7 percent from last year, his ground ball rate is up 3 percent and his barrel rate is down almost 4 percent.

“I mean, mechanics are going to be there,” he said. “They’re not going to change that much. You just have to lock it in on what location you want and look for something you can hit.”

As Harris makes things harder for himself, his opponents aren’t doing him any favors. He is also seeing fewer pitches in the strike zone (49 percent vs. 51.5 percent last year) and his chase rate has jumped almost three points with it.


Russell Steinberg covers Major League Baseball and the New York Liberty for ClutchPoints. A baseball and basketball lifer, he has written for Boardroom, SLAM, SB Nation, The Next, and more. He graduated from NYU in 2012 and still returns to serve as PA announcer and occasional broadcaster for the school’s basketball and volleyball teams.

Related Posts

🔥 Report 🚨 Yankees Hold Firm: New York refuses to budge on Cody Bellinger’s price, talks hit a wall as tension rises, and insiders hint this standoff could reshape the entire offseason market..ll

The New York Yankees once again find themselves at the center of MLB offseason intrigue, as ESPN insider Jeff Passan offered revealing insight into the organization’s mindset…

🚨 BREAKING MLB MOVE: The Chicago White Sox shock the league by landing former TOP PROSPECT Jarred Kelenic — once one of baseball’s most hyped youngsters now fighting for a comeback after stalling in Seattle and Atlanta. Can ChiSox turn this reclamation story into the next big offseason headline… or will it fizzle in Spring Training?👇

🚨 CHICAGO WHITE SOX SHAKE UP ROSTER: Jarred Kelenic and Munetaka Murakami Join Forces for 2026 Season 👇 The Chicago White Sox are determined to turn the…

🚨 BREAKING BRAVES REPORT: The Atlanta Braves just pulled a stealth offseason move, signing veteran outfielder José Azocar to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite — but this quiet depth move could explode into a secret weapon if injuries hit early! Will this unheralded signing become one of the most talked‑about off‑season plays?👇

🚨 ATLANTA BRAVES SIGN JOSE AZOCAR: A Depth Move with Speed and Defensive Versatility for 2026 👇 The Atlanta Braves have made a move to bolster their…

🚨 EXCLUSIVE MLB SHOWDOWN: Red Sox at a crossroads — should they SIGN ALEX BREGMAN and reshape the lineup, or gamble everything on Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette and ignite an Atlantic rivalry that could redefine AL East power? Experts are divided and fans are yelling — this offseason twist could spark the wildest headlines yet!👇

🚨 BOSTON RED SOX FACE A TOUGH DECISION: Alex Bregman or Bo Bichette? The Future of the Lineup Hangs in the Balance 👇 As the Boston Red…

🧨 BREAKING MLB UPDATE: Yankees fans are on the edge of their seats as $80 MILLION former MVP slugger Cody Bellinger teeters between re‑signing and walking into free agency chaos… New forecasts predict good news is coming — but is this the calm before a blockbuster shock that could shake the Bronx Bombers’ entire offseason strategy?👇

🚨 NEW YORK YANKEES IN A TIGHT SPOT: Cody Bellinger’s Free Agency Drama Could Define Their Offseason 👇 The New York Yankees are facing a critical moment…

🛑 EXCLUSIVE MLB ALERT: The clock is about to explode on the hottest free agent chase of the offseason — THREE Japanese stars could flip the Chicago Cubs’ fate in 2026, but signing deadlines are breathing down their necks with less than DAYS left! Will Chicago hit a home run or strike out in the final hours of the posting window as rival teams close in?👇

🚨 CHICAGO CUBS FANS ON EDGE: The Countdown Begins as Cubs Aim to Make a Big Splash in Free Agency with Japanese Stars and Key Moves 👇…