For a team with talent like the Braves have, Spring Training should be about only two things. One, staying healthy and two, letting the prospects shine for the entire organization. The numbers that the starters put up should be thrown away. Also, the 14-5 record should be ignored as well. But some of the starters are doing things that are hard to ignore. Mauricio Dubon is enjoying his time with Chipper Jones and the Spring numbers are good. Austin Riley might be stealing some bases this year thanks to some work with Antoan Richardson. But the big news out of Spring is that Michael Harris looks amazing.
Michael Harris’ 2026 Spring Training plate discipline numbers are completely different from last season. Last year’s 128/16 K/BB ratio has been replaced with a 3/4 K/BB ratio. O-Swing (swinging outside the strike zone) is down from 42.9 to 25.5 percent. Overall swing rate is down from 56.5 to 41.7 percent. He’s not trading power though. His wOBA is higher now than at any point in his career.
Advertisement
Yeah, it’s Spring Training. And plate discipline changes don’t really suggest anything until at least 50 plate appearances. But will Michael Harris’ Spring Training plate discipline roll over into the season? Maybe so. Plate discipline tends to be a lifestyle, good and bad. He could continue but he could easily slide the other way. He appears committed to it for now, though.
“[Plate discipline] is one of the main things I want to work on right now,” Harris said. “It’s one of the bigger things that will help elevate my game and help this team a lot. So, my focus now is making sure I’m swinging at pitches I can handle.”
The projections love Michael Harris for a reason. He has a great profile and amazing defense. It would be amazing for him not to repeat the summer of 4-3. It would be nice if 2025 was completely different altogether.
Build Your Winning Bracket!
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory! Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
Advertisement
-
Mon-Wed 5-8pm: Chris Dobbertean
-
Thursday 9am-12pm: Chris Dobbertean and Mike Rutherford