Willie Harris
| AB | 2441 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .238 |
| OBP | .327 |
| SLG | .346 |
| HR | 39 |
- Full name William Charles Harris
- Born 06/22/1978 in Cairo, GA
- Profile Ht.: 5'9" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Kennesaw State
- Debut 09/02/2001
- Drafted in the 24th round (727th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 1999.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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A late-round pick who has gone from an organizational player to legitimate prospect through strength of will, Harris is the nephew of former big leaguer Ernest Riles. He was born in Cairo, Ga., and became just the second big leaguer from the town--following Jackie Robinson. Harris' biggest strength is his drive, which allows him to play above his tools. He has solid skills and his makeup is off the charts. He's determined to be a major leaguer and doesn't get discouraged by setbacks. His speed is a tick above average, allowing him to play second base or center field, and his bat is his best tool. Harris has just enough pop in his bat to get himself in trouble when he starts swinging from his heels. Because his tools aren't overwhelming and he's just 5-foot-9, he'll have to prove himself every year and at every level. The Orioles started comparing Harris to Tony Phillips last year, and he continues to fulfill those expectations. He'll start 2002 in Triple-A and should be in Baltimore by the end of the year. -
A year ago, Harris was a late-round pick who looked like he could be a solid organizational player. Now Harris, the nephew of former big leaguer Ernest Riles, is viewed as the second coming of Tony Phillips. The organization's minor league player of the year is an ornery, gutsy performer who's good but not great in most aspects of the game. He's a lefthanded hitter who came up as a second baseman but acquitted himself well in center field last season as well. He has good hands for the infield and a good arm for the outfield. He's a line-drive hitter who shows occasional pop, is willing to take a walk and has good speed on the basepaths. Harris will start the season at Bowie and try to prove he can be more than a utilityman.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Think of Harris as Orlando Hudson with more speed and less pop. Though he's still learning how to read pitchers and which counts to run on, Harris ranked third in the league with 32 stolen bases. He bunts well, and has been clocked at 3.6 seconds to first on a bunt. He has leadoff speed, though he'll need to walk more often to truly fit into a leadoff role. "He's a Ray Durham type," Wedge said. "He can put it on the ground, beat it out and steal bags. He's got a lot of energy." A former center fielder, Harris has worked hard to transform himself into a solid defender at second base. He has improved the most at turning double plays, which now is a strong suit for him.
