Michael Harris II exudes no emotions but lots of talent and confidence as Braves’ new $72 million man

ATLANTA — Two hours after a crowded and celebratory press conference that marked what was arguably the greatest moment of his life, Braves rookie Michael Harris II sat quietly at his locker all alone on Wednesday afternoon and engaged in a minor struggle to pull on a pair of stubborn gym socks Foot.

It was a small moment of human normality on an afternoon that had been anything but for the humble 21-year-old whose nickname – Money Mike – had suddenly become an apt nickname. It was also a moment that summed up the essence of Harris after a few months in the big leagues: a striking and determined presence, but not one that drew undue attention.

MORE: What you should know about Michael Harris II’s long-term deal with Braves

However, the moment gave no indication that Harris, the youngest player in MLB this season, had signed an eight-year, $72 million contract extension that will keep him with the Braves through at least 2030. After just 71 big league games, Harris, an Atlanta native, received the ultimate vote of confidence from his hometown team. Harris also has a lot of confidence, and we’ll get to that in a moment.

But first, why would a defending World Series champion give an eight-year, $72 million contract to a boy who was bussing in the lower minors just a year ago? A fair question, perhaps, but only if you’ve never seen Michael Harris II play baseball. However, once you’ve done that, it’s pretty much a no-brainer – for a number of reasons.

The Glove: “It covers so much ground”

First, there is Harris’ business card.

“Platinum glove quality midfield,” Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud told The Sporting News. “It’s pretty incredible to see a ball get hit by someone’s racquet and think there’s no shot and then easily get there and be under it like a piece of cake.”

It’s a common theme when asking Harris’ team-mates about his skills – the constant surprise, even awe, at what he can do in midfield.

“Gosh, he covers so much ground out there,” Austin Riley told TSN. “There are balls that have been hit and I’m like, ‘That probably won’t get caught,’ and the next thing you know, he’s making (the catch).

“He’s putting back so much ground and saving so many runs.”

In fact, Harris is second most among all midfielders with six outs above average (in the 94th percentile in MLB), and his five defensive runs saved leads the NL in that position. Both numbers are even more impressive considering Harris only debuted on May 28.

But it’s not just the range, Riley said. “He also has a hose.” Watch:

Die Fledermaus: “Pretty unbelievable”

Since arriving in late May, Harris has added significantly to the Braves’ lineup, primarily at number ninth.

Coming into play on Wednesday, Harris had 254 at-bats and led all qualified MLB rookies with .825 OPS. He was named NL Rookie of the Month in June with .347/.371/.574 and, as of June 13, leads all rookies in home runs with 12 and is second in hits with 58.

“The production that he had to have on the plate was pretty amazing,” said d’Arnaud.

The Braves don’t consider it a coincidence that the team turned their season on a 14-game winning streak that began just days after Harris’ arrival.

“He struck a spark,” said staff ace Max Fried. “…He’s been a big catalyst for us.”

Riley added: “Just being a guy who hits nine holes who can do damage and be consistent on the plate (was tremendous). He put up very professional bats.”

The speed, the coolness: “I don’t even think I have emotions”

The more Harris plays, the more he shows off the five coveted tools.

A significant percentage of his powers come from Sprint Speed, which is just a few ticks from Elite. (His 29.3 feet per second puts him in MLB’s 94th percentile for that category.) That comes in handy both when chasing those seemingly impossible-to-catch flyballs and when he’s running the bases. That means he’s 14-to-14 in stolen base attempts, a tally that leads all NL rookies.

Harris has also received praise for one of his intangibles: Despite being only 21 years old, he never seems to get flustered or overwhelmed by the stage or the moment. “A slow heartbeat” is how manager Brian Snitker likes to describe it.

Harris offers a simple reason.

“Honestly, I don’t even think I have emotions,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “When I was drafted, I had no emotions. I just stared at the TV. Everyone else ran around the living room. I’m just the one person standing there, no emotions… I’m attracting I’m not really showing any emotions right now.”

MORE: 10 single-season MLB accomplishments we’ll never see again

All together and it was a long-term relationship that the Braves needed to have.

“I told him in spring training: ‘I’m not trading you,'” general manager Alex Anthopoulos said on Wednesday. “When we did the deal with Matt Olson … I think our clubhouse was obviously shocked by some of the guys who moved. But we were really excited about him over the long term.”

Confidence: “It’s all the same game”

The Braves’ confidence in Harris is perhaps matched only by Harris’ confidence. After he finally put those socks on at his locker in that quiet moment before Wednesday’s game against the Mets, I asked Harris if he was surprised by his early success at the big league level, given that he had never had doubles prior to his appointment -A have played -high.

“Yes and no,” he told me. “I feel like growing up I had the right people around me who kind of guided me to do the right things and be prepared for this moment. I feel like just having her in my life and teaching myself the right ways allowed me to do what I’m doing now.”

The surprising thing he said? The transition from outstanding Double-A to everyday MLB player was easier than expected. It’s still just baseball.

“I feel like it’s the same game,” Harris said. “The biggest difference is the number of fans and, I think, the lifestyle. But I feel like it’s pretty much the same style of play as Double-A.”

However, the elite competition came as no surprise. Harris knew what he was getting into after his promotion, but this is where he belongs after rising to the top of the NL Rookie of the Year contenders list.

“I kind of expected it to be the highest and hardest level,” Harris said. “I feel like everything is pretty much what I expected.”

And so far, as the eight-year extension suggests, Harris has been exactly what the Braves expected.