Hayden Harris

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #16 prospect in 2026
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Mild
  
  Adjusted Grade: 35
  
  Track Record: Harris signed as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Southern in 2022. He’s been a full-time reliever since entering pro ball, and made his big league debut with three solid relief appearances in September. Harris spent most of his time with Double-A and Triple-A, where he posted a 0.69 ERA over 52 innings. His 30.6 K-BB% was the best mark of any Braves minor leaguer with at least 50 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Harris is a sidearming lefthander with a 6-foot, 186-pound frame and one of the lowest release points of any minor league pitcher. That allows him to rely heavily on a 92 mph fastball that touches 95, but plays up from that velocity. It’s an extremely flat pitch that he lands in the zone at an above-average clip and misses plenty of barrels at the top of the zone. The 32% miss rate Harris drove with his fastball was one of the best in Atlanta’s system. Harris pairs the fastball with a low-80s sweeper slider and a mid-80s splitter. He’s more comfortable with the fastball than his secondaries, which was clear in his big league stint when he threw the heater more than 80% of the time. The sweeper could be a weapon for him, but he’ll need to continue making strides with his splitter to keep righties off-balance.
  
  The Future: Harris is a ready-made reliever whose low slot, release point and fastball shape will carry him. His margin for error will be small unless he can add more velocity or take his secondaries to another level.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Split: 45 | Sweeper: 55 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #22 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Harris went undrafted in 2022 after a four-year career with Georgia Southern, where he pitched out of the bullpen and finished his career with a 5.30 ERA. The Braves signed him as an undrafted free agent, and in his first full season he progressed three levels, from High-A Augusta to Double-A Mississippi, struck out 36.8% of batters and posted a 3.08 FIP--which was the lowest of any pitcher in the organization with at least 40 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Harris is a straight reliever with an average, 6-foot, 186-pound frame. He works from the stretch and throws from a lower, three-quarters arm slot, which paired with his drop-and-drive action creates a uniquely low attack angle for hitters to deal with. Harris averaged just 91-92 mph with his fastball and touched 93, but it’s an extremely flat pitch with a shallow approach angle that played well above its velocity and generated a well above-average 39% miss rate. He showed great feel to land the pitch and threw it for strikes at a 70% clip, which helped him post a solid 9.7% walk rate. While Harris uses the fastball around 75% of the time, he also has an average, 82-85 mph slider with occasional hard-biting action.
  
  The Future: Harris has perhaps already exceeded expectations as an NDFA, but he has a chance to provide big league value out of the bullpen thanks to his unique release traits and fastball command.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Control: 50