Two of the biggest pieces of the puzzle in a failed Atlanta Braves 2025 season are a lack of depth and acceptance of failure. This hasn't been the case of not having enough money, but even the high-paid pieces failing to execute. And those high salaries play right into that aforementioned lack of depth. Still, the Braves are making the wrong choices, continuing to plug failing players into a predictable lineup that can find no level of consistent production. With this in mind, it is time for Atlanta to make a tough choice and send Michael Harris down to Gwinnett.
As harsh as this might seem for the incredible defender, it is the only decision the Braves have left. Harris is hitting .215 and giving fans flashbacks to the days when pitchers were still at the bottom of the lineup. The outfielder is as sure an out as is currently left in the league. It is hard to watch the swings Harris willingly takes with at-bats often ending in a blink. The level of struggle has reached a point where the team must be willing to make a tough call and demote the outfielder.
Braves Outfielder Michael Harris Cannot Remain in Starting Lineup
Harris is a career .272 hitter and still remains an incredibly important piece of the future for the Braves. Sending the outfielder down isn't an attempt to turn the page or giving up. Rather, it is facing the obvious reality that the current level of production cannot be accepted. It is a chance for the starter to sit back and attempt to make adjustments without the current level of scrutiny and frustration his struggles are garnering at this level.
Sending Harris down serves as a warning to the rest of the roster while also giving an important player a reset. Accepting awful at-bats and the level of offense Harris offers is a losing mentality. One that goes a long way in explaining why the Braves find themselves in less-than-ideal positioning.
Atlanta deserves a far more consistent level of offensive production and won't have a difficult time finding it. It's time to stop delaying the obvious and give Harris time to take a step back and attempt to figure out what has gone wrong.