In all likelihood, the Atlanta Braves will have the top two (and possibly three!) finishers in National League Rookie of the Year voting. And on Sunday, the presumed favorite went to extraordinary lengths to help his fellow rookie star.
Braves rookie pitcher Spencer Strider took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Phillies, and in the same game, he became the fastest-ever pitcher to record 200 strikeouts (129.2 innings). That no-hit bid would end both due to pitch count and Alec Bohm’s solo home run, but man, Michael Harris II really did just about everything he could to keep that no-no alive.
That's a Bohm Run, folks#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/lg3yXHD23F
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 18, 2022
Harris got a perfect read on Bohm’s hit and tracked the ball to the center field wall. Harris timed his jump so well and used the wall to propel himself even higher off the ground. Had he started the leap a split second earlier, we might have been talking about the best catch in years. But the ball hit off Harris’ glove just as he was extending his arm.
Here’s another look:
This close to Catch Of The Year territory 😑 pic.twitter.com/M5bu3T2rT2
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) September 18, 2022
What an effort. The Braves would still go on to win, 5-2.
For all the attention Harris’ bat gets (he leads NL rookies in average, homers and RBI despite only joining the team in late May), his defense has brought a game-changing quality to the Atlanta outfield.
No wonder fans were still impressed with his sensational effort.
This was how Twitter reacted
Bruh https://t.co/GD7Sh8BzaM pic.twitter.com/B3LixLsPhO
— Phil Velaryon (@Ph1IWasHere_) September 19, 2022
This would have been close to the best catch I’ve ever seen https://t.co/H93Gc6UtD8
— Timmy Hubbard (@t_hubb14) September 18, 2022
Catch or no catch this is insane https://t.co/d5hAPHRGB2
— Silly Sills (@Noah_Da_Boa) September 18, 2022
Yoooo. If Mike would’ve pulled this one in!!! https://t.co/j7rRc6JaQ4
— James Johnson (@SportsGrind_Don) September 18, 2022
He has had like 3 of those this year. He be so close https://t.co/tVFUlCeUwS
— James Howard (@jthowardesigns) September 18, 2022
This close to one of the most legendary catches ever* 😵 https://t.co/O0bdBByr6A
— Landon Hughes (@HughesLandon) September 18, 2022
This would have been catch of the decade https://t.co/Zzb2LLyf88
— Scotty (@Justbaseball25) September 18, 2022
Even when he doesn’t make the play it looks good https://t.co/VQV6nEitgI
— Tim Wright (@TimWright___) September 18, 2022
Goodnight. Look at that air https://t.co/moXxjThjgG
— Keviñ (@ChikinChop) September 18, 2022
That would have preserved a no-hitter too. He was so close.
