ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 15: Hayden Harris #79 of the Atlanta Braves looks on from the dugout on the day that MLB is honoring Jackie Robinson Day prior to the MLB game between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves on April 15, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves entered the second half of the season with a clear objective: find enough starting pitching around Chris Sale to build a legitimate postseason rotation. While Sale has continued to provide the kind of frontline production Atlanta expected, the search for a reliable No. 2 starter has remained one of the club’s biggest questions, with hopeful frontliners like Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Strider struggling to stay healthy.
The Braves made a move to acquire Tyler Mahle at the trade deadline, but that addition, while notable, did not completely erase the concern about the playoff depth behind Sale.
“While most of their National League rivals traded for starting pitchers who will play major roles in the postseason, the Braves added one who will only help them get there,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Michael Cunningham wrote of the move. “Counting on right-hander Tyler Mahle as the No. 2 starter in October is a shaky proposition.”
That uncertainty has now coincided with another roster change involving a former Braves pitching prospect.
Atlanta Braves Move On From Former Breakout Candidate After Just 3 Games
On Friday, the Colorado Rockies, who stood dead last in the National League at the time, claimed left-hander Hayden Harris off waivers from Atlanta, ending what was once a promising start with the Braves after just three major league appearances.
Harris entered 2026 with legitimate momentum after putting together an eye-opening 2025 season in Atlanta’s minor league system. His performance last year helped earn him his first opportunity in the majors, but his command issues returned this season.
“Last year, Harris seemed to have a breakout,” Darragh McDonald noted for MLB Trade Rumors. “His 9.7% walk rate in the minors was still a bit on the high side but a big improvement for him. He was still striking guys out at a huge rate, finishing the year at 40.3%. That got him his aforementioned brief look in the show. But things have backed up this year.”
That regression made Harris expendable as the Braves continued trying to optimize their pitching depth for the stretch run. His 2026 minor league numbers reflect the problem: Harris posted a 5.28 ERA and 29 walks over 46 innings at Triple-A Gwinnett while still recording 61 strikeouts.
The strikeout ability remains intriguing, but the control deterioration left Atlanta with little reason to prioritize him over other pitching options.
National League Bottom Feeder Takes Chance On Former Atlanta Braves Breakout Pitcher
Colorado, meanwhile, has plenty of incentive to see whether Harris can rediscover the version of himself that emerged in 2025.
The Rockies have dealt with significant pitching problems of their own, posting one of the worst team ERAs in the majors. That gives Colorado an opportunity to stash Harris in the minors, work on his command and determine whether his high-end strikeout ability can eventually translate into a useful major league role.
Harris also retains some roster flexibility, making him a low-risk addition for a Rockies club that needs pitching depth. If he can get his walk rate under control again, the 27-year-old could eventually become more than a waiver claim.
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