National Analyst Names the Most Indispensable Member of the Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves have arguably the best lineup in all of baseball.
Several key players on Atlanta's roster could make the case for the most indispensable player. Will Leitch of MLB.com took on the task of naming each team's most indispensable guy.
For the Atlanta Braves, he named centerfielder Michael Harris II as the player that the NL East champions would be lost without.
"Harris might seem like a bit of a reach considering how many superstars play for this team, but it’s worth remembering how much his ability to play center field instantly changed this team when he was called up in 2022," Leitch wrote. "With Ronald Acuña Jr. firmly planted in right field, Atlanta’s center fielders ranked 28th in MLB in WAR in 2021, but they’re in the top 10 since. Harris’ presence shored up the outfield defense and it gave them an extra offensive producer and glue guy in the lineup. There’s no real replacement for a lot of the players on the Braves, but losing Harris II would force them to change basic aspects of what make them the Braves."
Harris has been instrumental for the Braves since his debut and is a good choice, but other guys would have made sense too. Braves first baseman Matt Olson led the MLB in home runs a season ago - it would be close to impossible for Atlanta to replace that production.
Another option would be Spencer Strider. With questions already being asked about Atlanta's starting rotation, the argument could be made that Strider could be Atlanta's most indispensable player.
But Money Mike's ability to impact the game both offensively and defensively makes it harder to replace him that some other options, and for that, this pick makes some sense.