Florida baseball routinely brings in some of the top recruits in the country, but class of 2026 outfielder Brady Harris 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 Hunter Barco 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…
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