July saw Atlanta’s struggling center fielder make strides on offense.
July 2025 was one of the worst months that this era of the Atlanta Braves have had as they closed the month with a staggeringly bad 8-17 record. Injuries to the team’s starting pitching finally proved too much for the team to over come as they gave up 151 runs.
In the middle of the month, Braves fans got to enjoy the All-Star Game at their home ballpark, which will probably be the only thing people will remember about this summer a decade from now.
There weren’t a lot of individual bright spots, which isn’t surprising given the team’s record. Former top pitching prospect Joey Wentz was claimed by the organization and pitched well in three starts. Catcher/designated hitters Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy both continued to provide strong offensive and defensive performances. Ozzie Albies had a better month at the plate.
In July, one player’s overall production lifted him to above all others. And it was a much-needed turn-around for a player being counted on as a future cornerstone of the organization.
Battery Power Braves Player of the Month: Michael Harris II
No Braves player had struggled more coming into July than the team’s young center fielder, Michael Harris II. His defense was still border-line elite but through June he was one of the worst offensive performers in all of baseball.
Then, a few mechanical adjustments with this stance and swing, and July ended-up looking like the kind of month many people expected him to be able to produce over a season.
In 93 at bats, Harris II picked up a team-leading 28 hits. After going more than two months with out drawing a walk, he managed three walks in the back-half of the month. He saw an up-tick in his slugging, too, with four doubles, four triples and three home runs.
That resulted in a .301/.323/.527 slash line for July.
Harris II was named the National League Player of the Week in the last full week of July which included a 4-for-4 game with a homer, double and two triples.
Coming on the heels of a deplorable June that saw him get benched due to performance, July’s surge provided optimism that Harris II can finished 2025 strong, even through the team is going nowhere, fast.