When baseball historians tell the story of the 2023 Atlanta Braves, they could start with a short video of Monday’s game to illustrate their point.
The Braves, putting together one of the most prolific offensive seasons in MLB history, once again showed why they’re every pitcher’s worst nightmare.
In the sixth inning, outfielder Michael Harris II, the Braves No. 9 hitter, crushed a pitch from Philadelphia Phillies reliever Andrew Bellatti 423 feet to center.
“Wow, he made the biggest part of the ballpark look really, really small,” Braves analyst John Smoltz said with admiration.
On the very next pitch, MVP contender Ronald Acuña Jr. smashed a 420-foot blast into the stands.
Michael Harris II and Ronald Acuña Jr. crush massive homers on consecutive pitches for the Braves.
Brandon Gaudin and John Smoltz on the call for Bally Sports South. ⚾️💣💣🎙️ pic.twitter.com/C0FoOHYNnd
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 11, 2023
The very fact that Harris — who has 15 home runs and is hitting almost .300 — is batting ninth shows how loaded the Braves are this season. He’d be in the middle of the order for many teams. The Braves are averaging almost six runs a game and are on pace to finish with one of the highest season run totals in modern MLB history.
The baseball world quickly responded to the Braves’ latest exploits.
The Phillies went to Andrew Bellatti in the sixth. Michael Harris II and Ronald Acuña Jr. greeted him with back-to-back homers — the 16th time the Braves have gone back to back this season.
Here's Acuña pulverizing a no-doubter for his 36th home run of the season. pic.twitter.com/qzaQYDAkm8
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) September 11, 2023
This lineup is borderline unfair.
— BallparkFranks7 (@BallparkFranks7) September 11, 2023
I’m so glad Michael Harris II has Ronald Acuña Jr. to learn from and they didn’t let him become a robot. Swag levels off the charts.
— jadyn. (@itsJadynNow) September 11, 2023
Best CF in baseball and the unanimous MVP
— VA Braves (@RVaBraves) September 11, 2023
What’s Atlanta and MLB record for back to back homers in a season? 16 sounds like a lot.
— Carson Blum (@Ca_Blum) September 11, 2023