The Braves were the hottest team in baseball during the month of June. They finished with a 21-6 record and closed the gap in the division from 10.5 games to just 3.5 on the Mets. The club tied the longest win streak (14) in the modern era along the way as all facets of the squad are clicking.
The pitchers, hitters, and defense are coming together as the boys up north in New York crumble. Max Fried has been his usual dominant self and is a Cy Young candidate; Matt Olson broke a franchise record in his first season with the Braves and is on pace to rival Hank Aaron‘s record of 92 extra-base hits. However, neither has been the hottest player in June. That honor goes to Michael Harris II and Dansby Swanson, who both made the MLB’s Team of the Month.
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Both players give the Braves excellent defense at two of the most important positions on the diamond. But what they’re doing at the plate is even more impressive.
Swanson slashed .330/.390/.563 with a .953 OPS, seven home runs, 19 RBIs, and five doubles over the month of June. Those are incredible numbers as he lights the league on fire in a contract year, proving he’s well worth a massive contract extension. The former No. 1 overall pick is playing like the best shortstop in baseball, but the rookie might be playing even better.
Harris, the youngest player in the league, slashed .347/.371/.574 with a .946 OPS, four homers, 16 RBIs, seven doubles, and two triples over that same period. He’s making a strong case for the NL Rookie of the Year. But more importantly, as soon as he was brought up from Double-A, skipping Gwinnett, the club went on a winning streak. That is no coincidence; he’s here to stay.
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Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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