News Summary
The Atlanta Braves have promoted pitcher Hayden Harris from the Gwinnett Stripers to their major league roster, marking his debut as a local talent from Augusta, Georgia. Following this call-up, the Braves optioned Hunter Stratton to Triple-A and designated Wander Suero for assignment. Harris’s impressive minor league performance, highlighted by a 0.36 ERA in Double-A, has generated excitement about his potential impact in the majors as he adapts to a higher level of play.
Atlanta
The Atlanta Braves have officially called up Hayden Harris from the Gwinnett Stripers to their major league roster, a significant move announced on Tuesday. This marks the debut of a local talent in the major leagues, with Harris hailing from Augusta, Georgia. In a corresponding roster move, the Braves have optioned RHP Hunter Stratton to Triple-A Gwinnett following their game on Monday and designated RHP Wander Suero for assignment to accommodate Harris on the 40-man roster.
Background of Hayden Harris
Born on March 2, 1999, Hayden Harris stands at 6 feet tall and weighs 186 pounds. His journey to the major leagues is unique; he was an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Southern University, where he had a five-year college baseball career. During his time at Georgia Southern, Harris compiled an 8-7 record and a 5.30 ERA, primarily as a relief pitcher. After not being selected in the MLB Draft, he played summer ball with the Savannah Bananas, where he was eventually discovered by a Braves scout through LinkedIn.
Rapid Advancement through Minor Leagues
After signing with the Braves, Harris quickly ascended through the organization’s minor league system. In 2023, he displayed dominant pitching performance, only allowing three earned runs throughout the season. His success included pitching at three levels within the Braves’ minor league teams (A, A+, AA) before transitioning from Double-A to Triple-A by 2024. Despite a challenging start, where he posted a 7.36 ERA in limited innings with Gwinnett, he rebounded strongly, showcasing his talent with a remarkable 0.36 ERA over 25.1 innings pitched in Double-A Columbus.
Current Season Performance
In his appearances with the Stripers, Harris allowed just one earned run while giving up eight hits and nine walks, achieving a strikingly high strikeout rate of 36. His fastball, averaging 91.5 mph, has been particularly effective; opponents have struggled against it, managing only a .111 batting average. Harris’s unique fastball shape contributes to its effectiveness, making it challenging for hitters to make solid contact.
Pitching Style and Tools
Harris primarily relies on his fastball, which constitutes 69.2% of his pitches. Additionally, he incorporates a sweeper and a splitter into his repertoire. His sweeper has also been exceptional, yielding a mere .056 batting average against it. The Braves are now eager to observe how he adapts to the major league level, particularly given some late-season issues he faced, including challenges with walks and home runs.
Excitement Surrounding His Debut
The call-up of Hayden Harris is being highlighted as one of the most awaited relief prospect debuts for the Braves since A.J. Minter made his major league debut in 2017. While there are concerns regarding his performance against right-handed hitters, his rapid development has generated considerable enthusiasm about his potential impact in the majors as he aligns his skills in facing higher caliber talent.
As Hayden Harris embarks on his major league career, fans and analysts alike are keen to see how he will perform and contribute to the Braves’ bullpen in the coming games.
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Additional Resources
- WJBF: Hayden Harris Gets The Call To Join Atlanta Braves Pitching Staff
- MiLB: Hayden Harris – A Hometown Hero
- AJC: Augusta Native Hayden Harris Turned To LinkedIn
- Wikipedia: Hayden Harris
- Google Search: Hayden Harris News
Author: STAFF HERE AUGUSTA WRITER
AUGUSTA STAFF WRITER The AUGUSTA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAugusta.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Augusta, Richmond County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Arts in the Heart Festival, Westobou Festival, and Masters Week. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and Greater Augusta Arts Council, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare that power the local economy such as Textron Specialized Vehicles, Cardinal Health, and Nutrien. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAtlanta.com and HERESavannah.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Georgia's dynamic landscape.
