Braves’ Michael Harris II Stuns Phillies with Epic Homer-Robbing Catch in 5-4 Loss

In a heart-pounding moment at Citizens Bank Park, Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II turned heads with a jaw-dropping catch that denied the Philadelphia Phillies a three-run homer on Thursday. The Braves fell 5-4, but Harris’s acrobatic leap in the fourth inning stole the show. With the Phillies leading 2-0 and runners on base, Max Kepler crushed an 85 MPH splitter from Scott Blewett, sending Harris sprinting toward the center field wall. Timing his jump to perfection, Harris snagged the ball over the fence, erasing what would have been a game-changing blast.

Harris didn’t stop there. He fired the ball back to the infield, keeping the runners in check. Blewett escaped the inning without further damage, thanks to Harris’s heroics. The game was part of a doubleheader prompted by Wednesday’s rainout, with the second matchup set for 6:45 p.m. ET.

At 24, Harris is no stranger to the spotlight, having clinched the National League Rookie of the Year in 2022 with a .297 average, 19 homers, and 20 stolen bases. Yet, this season’s been tougher—he’s hitting .223 with a .255 on-base percentage in 53 games. Still, moments like this remind us why Harris remains a spark plug for the Braves, even in a 25-29 season against the Phillies’ 36-19 dominance.