Scorpions' Harris on way to reaching dream
Powder Springs, Georgia, is a Mookie Betts throw from the Braves' new Cobb County ballpark. Several Minor Leaguers grew up playing ball around the tony West Cobb enclave, including Alex Speas, Marlin Willis, Taylor Trammell and Duane Underwood Jr.In 2013, the McEachern High School starting lineup featured three future pro
Powder Springs, Georgia, is a Mookie Betts throw from the Braves' new Cobb County ballpark. Several Minor Leaguers grew up playing ball around the tony West Cobb enclave, including Alex Speas, Marlin Willis, Taylor Trammell and Duane Underwood Jr.
In 2013, the McEachern High School starting lineup featured three future pro ballplayers, and each of them took separate paths.
Infielder Jared Walker was a fifth-round pick of the Dodgers in the 2014 Draft. A year later, after Dalton Geekie spent two seasons at Georgia Highlands Community College, the right-handed pitcher was taken by the Braves in the 22nd round.
Trey Harris had the longest road to a pro contract but may have the shortest route to the big leagues. On the strength of his first full pro season, the outfielder earned a spot with the Scottsdale Scorpions in the elite Arizona Fall League. Not bad for a guy Atlanta selected in the 32nd round of the 2018 Draft during his senior year at the University of Missouri.
"In high school, I don't think any of us thought we'd get picked," admitted the 18th-ranked Braves prospect. "Jared and Dalton, it was good to see them drafted. I was glad to go the long route. It helped me grow and mature.
"I've always dreamed big. I appreciate the [college process] a lot. You start the grind in August, getting ready for February -- class, study hall, practice."
He also made the most of his time on collegiate diamonds. In 2015, the left-handed slugger earned Freshman All-SEC and All-Tournament honors. His sophomore year, he was second on the team with 36 RBIs. Having homered at SunTrust Park in an exhibition his junior year, he hit .316 with 20 extra-base hits and 50 RBIs in 56 games as a senior.
"My high school coach, Dan Torrenti, is a guy who never gets enough credit," Harris said. "He was one of my biggest supporters. A lot of the success I had at Missouri is because of what I learned from Coach Torrenti.
"He came [to McEachern] my junior year. We put him through a lot, and he kept us together. Coach taught us how to keep focus, to play. Coach is low key, doesn't like a lot of attention, but he's a big reason for why I'm here today."
Harris opened a few eyes with a .302/.409/.434 line across Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and Class A action in his pro debut. This year, he batted .323/.389/.498, easing from Class A to Class A Advanced to Double-A en route to cracking the organization's Top 30 list.
"Last year was my first offseason. It was way more fun," he said, laughing. "I enjoy going to the field, working out. ... I go in, do the work. Really, it's just keep pushing, and I've been excited the whole time."
Still, he did not know what to expect coming into Spring Training, only that he'd be playing ball and focusing on being a better all-around prospect. Harris began the season with Class A Rome, where he batted .366/.437/.594 with 26 extra-base hits and 44 RBIs in 56 games and was named a South Atlantic League All-Star. The Braves bumped him to the Florida State League and the numbers in 34 games -- .303/.388/.443 -- earned him a promotion to Mississippi in the Southern League.
"I was happy to make it to [Class A Advanced] Florida this year," the 23-year-old said. "When I called home, my dad said I'd be in Double-A before the end of the year, and that's where I ended up.
"I've lived with a mattress on the floor. I went from Georgia to Florida to Mississippi in about a month. I've called [home] on a six-hour drive, called at 6 a.m. checking through security at the airport. … I'm glad to have the opportunity to chase my dreams."
Across the three stops, he led the system in average and finished fourth in on-base and slugging percentages while ranking second among Atlanta Minor Leaguers in hits (152) and total bases (234) and in the top 10 in just about every other offensive category. The breakout performance earned him Braves Minor League Player of the Year accolades.
An infielder in high school, Harris was moved to the outfield at Mizzou and continues to improve his defensive prowess. He committed three errors in 105 chances in 2018. This season, he made one in 194 opportunities.
"I've always been seen as a bat," he said. "That's a slippery slope -- one day you're the man, the next day you're everyone's worst enemy. As a fielder, I'm adjusting."
But he hasn't been deaf to chatter about American League teams having interest because of his offense-skewed development so far.
"That always creeps in. It's a business," Harris said. "The coolest part, for me, is that my hitting tools were always high. Now, my defense is coming up."
All things being equal, though, Harris wants to don his home team's uniform.
"I think about playing for the Braves," he said. "Whenever I watch the games, I try to envision being part of the team.
"On the other hand, as I said, it's a business. My agent told me there was some interest at the Trade Deadline. That just means, hey, other teams like me. I just want my dreams to come true."
In the meantime, through his first six AFL games, he's hitting .381/.417/.714 with two homers and four RBIs in 21 at-bats.
"If anything, I'm here to do one thing -- work on handling the curve," he said. "I change my swing a little bit on the breaking ball. I have to learn to stay the same, whether it's a fastball or a curve.
"I have to continue to put in the work. It's on me to put pressure on [the Braves] to move me up."
Duane Cross is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @DuaneCrossMiLB.
10 prospects at Spring Training who are lighting up Statcast
One of the best parts of Spring Training every year is getting to see the top prospects in baseball. A lot of the time, it's the first look fans get at MLB's future stars. But we also know a lot more about those prospects going into Spring Training than we
Questions plague Peeples' trailblazing story
A version of this story previously appeared on MiLB.com in 2007. We present it again as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
Prospects to watch this spring -- one for each team
Spring may not have arrived quite yet, but Spring Training has! Players have reported to camp and exhibition games kick off Thursday with the Cubs visiting the Dodgers in Glendale, Ariz.
8 of the best team matchups in Spring Breakout
After Spring Breakout's dynamic debut last year, the prospect showcase event returns in full force for 2025. All 30 Major League teams will field squads of top prospects to face off in 16 games from March 13-16 -- the Cubs and Nationals will play twice since there's an odd number
Fowler: A 19th-century baseball pioneer
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
Everything you need to know about prospects and Spring Training
This story was excerpted from MLB Pipeline's newsletter. Subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Arkansas-based Mariners affiliate to honor legacy of the Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine sounds like it could be the name of a baseball team playing in Arkansas' capital city, and for three nights during the 2025 season, it will be. The story behind the name transcends baseball, however. From Aug. 21-23, the Arkansas Travelers -- Seattle's Double-A affiliate --
MiLB podcast breaks down Spring Training storylines
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Leaf Peepers? Thunder Chickens?! Coming to the Minors this year
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Dodgers greats Newcombe and Campanella made history as Minors teammates
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
15 prospects primed for a bounceback season from injury
A lot of players will be getting a fresh start heading into the 2025 season. Prospects who missed significant time due to injury have had upwards of six months between regular-season games to return to health. Now they'll be looking to re-establish their value and maybe even reach new heights.
Check out the newest Minor League team logos for 2025
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Here are 18 prospects who also starred on the gridiron
The two-time defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs are set to meet the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, and plenty of baseball prospects will be keeping a close eye. After all, many current Minor Leaguers played football at a high level before committing fully to the diamond. No, there aren't any
Did you know the Superdome was once home to a Minor League team?
On Sunday, one of the world’s most-watched sporting events will take place at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Believe it or not, decades before Super Bowl LIX came to town, the same building was home to a Minor League Baseball team for one season. The 1977 Triple-A New Orleans Pelicans
How a Black pitcher's brief PCL stint in 1916 generated a historic card
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2010. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
The Show Before the Show: Episode 489
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minors legend Jones still holds batting record
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2008. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers. Grover "Deacon" Jones spent more than a half-century in baseball, serving the game at almost every level and in
Hooks have a new look -- and more -- on the line for 20th season
In advance of a milestone season at Whataburger Field, the Corpus Christi Hooks are making a change. The Houston Astros' Double-A affiliate unveiled new logos and uniforms on Friday evening, marking the first time they have significantly altered their look since debuting in 2005. According to Hooks general manager Brady
Here's how Jackie Robinson fueled Montreal to a Minor League title in 1946
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
They're due! MiLB's longest active title droughts
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
These players could earn teams extra Draft picks in 2025
Since the Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) was implemented under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, four players have earned their clubs extra Draft picks. The PPI rewards teams for promoting their best prospects to the big leagues at the start of the season, enabling them to earn a Draft pick if
Each team's best non-Top 100 prospect
There just isn't enough room to fit all the worthy talents on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list. We unveiled our latest rankings last Friday, and now we're going to spotlight the best prospect in each farm system who couldn't quite make the cut. We undertook the same exercise last