Florida baseball routinely brings in some of the top recruits in the country, but class of 2026 outfielder [autotag]Brady Harris[/autotag] stands out.
Harris is ranked fourth overall among high school juniors, according to Perfect Game. If he holds that position, he will be the highest-ranked Florida signee since Zac Veen who was the top player in the class of 2020.
Of course, there is a very real possibility that Harris follows Veen’s path as a first-round draft pick and never makes it to Florida. Such is the life of an elite prep athlete.
But the MLB draft is unique in that it’s more business-oriented than the other major sports. Heavy college classes can push the nation’s elite high schoolers down the board, and matching a desired price tag isn’t always in the cards for teams at the top of the draft.
Remember, left-hander [autotag]Hunter Barco[/autotag] was ranked No. 14 in the same 2020 class as Veen, and his strong commitment to Florida led teams to pass on him due to a high price tag. He would have been a slam dunk first-rounder had he avoided Tommy John surgery as a junior.
Gators Wire got to spend a weekend with Harris in September at the Prep Baseball American Game and one thing is clear: until he’s drafted and signed, Harris is the most exciting member of any Florida recruiting class not already on campus.
The Brady Harris hype is real
The first thing that stands out when Harris steps into the batter’s box is the visible eagerness among scouts in attendance. Baseball people want to see him hit as much as possible. The kids call that “aura” and Harris not only has it, but he seems to welcome the attention.
On a stage where the nation’s top players are all looking to impress, Harris has a sense of calm around him, even more so than some of the high school seniors at the event.
“That’s the only way to get better, in my opinion,” Harris said after the All-American Game. “I feel like if you’re playing against the best players in the world, it’s only going to make you a better player. So I think getting out here and getting to play against 50 or 60, whatever the number is, of just the best dudes in America, it’s a great experience every single time.”
Locking in is nothing new for Harris, though.
As a freshman, Harris delivered a walk-off home run over the fence to give Trinity Christian Academy a win in the district playoffs. A year later, he blasted another no-doubter in the state semifinals.
Over two years of high school ball, Harris has a .351 batting average with a 1.066 OPS. He’s a true five-tool athlete that should stick at centerfield — in fact, Harris said he doesn’t feel as comfortable on the corners because he’s so used to being the leader in the outfield.
There’s a reason Harris has earned comparisons to former LSU star and 2023 MLB draft No. 2 overall pick Dylan Crews.
Workout Day Metrics
The players ran through several drills at the PBR All-American Game Workout Day. Harris shined both in the field and at the plate.
Speed is the best tool in his arsenal, and that’s not taking away anything from the elite hit tool. Harris was fourth among participants in the 60-yard dash with a 6.59-second finish and peak speed of 21.7 mph.
At the plate, Harris had the third fastest hand speed at 24.0 mph on average and the highest average rotational acceleration at 28.6 grams.
“An efficient baseball swing is one in which the body creates the initial movements, which is then transferred to the arms and out to the bat, thereby maximizing Bat Speed through this proximal-to-distal kinematic sequencing movement pattern,” according to Prep Baseball.
Harris also showed off the power element of his game, reaching a max exit velocity of 103 mph at the plate and throwing 92 mph from the outfield. If you’re keeping track of the five tools, hitting for power, throwing ability and running speed have already been covered.
It’s hard to find a metric to prove fielding ability, but it’s pretty much a no-fly zone out there when Harris is in center. He has the range to allow the corner outfielders to play closer to the line, and he reminds this writer of 2023 No. 4 overall pick Max Clark in many ways.
PBR All-American Game
The second day of the event was the actual All-American Game. The class of 2025 won convincingly, 7-0. Harris went 0-3, but the class of 2026 only managed one hit through nine innings.
Still, it was a good opportunity for Harris, who is almost a lock to return to the event as a senior. Most high-school games don’t feature a mid-90s arm, let alone nine different arms with 90-plus capabilities.
“Just seeing consistent, what 92, 93 plus. Like just mid-nineties guys. It’s pretty cool,” he said. “That’s something you’re going to be facing at the next level, be it Florida or the MLB.”
Will Brady Harris make it to Florida?
Harris knows he’s a high-level draft prospect, but it’s not something he’s too focused on right now. Improving with each at-bat is the goal. Whatever happens next, he’ll be ready for.
Not too many players have the luxury of knowing they’ll either be playing in the SEC or the minor leagues after high school graduation, and it’s not something Harris takes for granted.
“It’s a great feeling to know that,” he said. “God’s plan is great for me at all times. I feel like any path that he takes me on, it’s going to be great. And I’m ready for the ride. No matter what it is.”
It appears that the path set for him might be a beeline to the pros, but Florida’s been developing a connection with Harris for years. That’s not something he’s going to forget about anytime soon.
“I was in my eighth-grade summer. I had a breakout summer and they reached out to me towards the fall,” Harris said. “We got the relationship going, and the offer came down like 2 or 3 weeks after we started talking. It’s been all up from there.”
Gator Nation will have to patiently wait to see how the draft process plays out in the summer of 2026 but never say never. Harris has been dreaming of playing in the Orange and Blue since he was small. If he makes it to campus, he’ll likely be a Day 1 starter in center field.
“I’ve been a Gator fan my whole life, and my mom went there. My cousin and a lot of my mom’s side of the family had been in school there. So I think I grew up as part of Gator Nation, and that’s where I belong.”
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