BRAVES’ HARRIS AIMS HIGH AFTER ROOKIE AWARD

Bad news for the rest of the National League: The 2022 Rookie of the Year doesn’t sound all that satisfied with his debut season.

Atlanta’s Michael Harris II, whose callup last year propelled the Braves to 101 wins and a division title, said Saturday he “had an all right season, I guess,” and then responded with more modesty when asked if that’s really how he feels about 2022.

“Some things I had to work on, but it was decent. I’ll try to do better,” Harris said. “Kind of like to hold myself to a higher standard.”

There’s no telling how good the 21-year-old center fielder can become. Harris hit .297 with 19 home runs, 64 RBIS and 20 stolen bases after jumping from Double-a to the majors. Atlanta was below .500 when Harris made his debut May 28. Shortly thereafter, the Braves went on a 14-game winning streak.

Harris and Atlanta teammate Spencer Strider finished 1-2 in the Rookie of the Year vote.

“It means a lot. I know you can only win it once,“Harris said. “I guess that made it mean so much more.”

Harris starts a $72 million, eight-year deal in 2023 that could be worth $102 million over 10 seasons. He’s from Dekalb, Ga., and the contract means he could be playing in Atlanta for a while.

Hendriks inspires White Sox

Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks is serving as an inspiration for the rest of the team in spring training.

Hendriks went public with his battle with cancer in January, announcing he has nonhodgkin lymphoma. But he has been working out at the team’s facility in Arizona, and pitching coach Ethan Katz said the threetime All-star had a bullpen session on Friday.

“This guy’s unbelievable. He really is,” an emotional Katz said Saturday. “He’ll be back on the field as soon as he can.”

Right-hander Lucas Giolito said learning of Hendriks’ diagnosis was “pretty devastating,” but it has helped having him around at camp.

“It’s like a great thing to see. He’s a special guy off the field as well,” Giolito said. “So seeing him do his thing right now, we’re all looking forward to having him back.”

Pedroia energizes Boston camp

Former Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia made his first visit to the team’s spring training facility since he officially retired in 2021.

“The energy Pedroia still has is unreal,” manager Alex Cora said. “For him to be around and with the group, I think it’s more important to him and we want to make a conscious effort to have him around as much as possible. When guys like that come here, it’s a joy for everybody, especially him.”

Pedroia’s left knee was injured by a slide from Manny Machado in 2017. He spent the next three years having multiple operations before he announced his retirement.

Owners 13, Players 6

Seattle outfielder Teoscar Hernandez was among five players who lost their salary arbitration cases Saturday and Angels outfielder Hunter Renfroe won as teams finished with a 13-6 advantage in decisions.

Angels infielder Gio Urshela, Tampa Bay pitchers Colin Poche and Ryan Thompson and St. Louis reliever Genesis Cabrera also lost their cases.

Hernandez will receive $14 million instead of his request for $16 million, still the highest salary for a player in a case that went to a decision. It topped the $13.5 million for both Gerrit Cole and Max Fried.

Renfroe will get $11.9 million instead of the team’s offer of $11.25 million.

The 19 hearings this year were up from 13 last year and the most since 22 in 2018.

Among the 33 players who exchanged proposed salaries with their teams on Jan. 13, 14 reached agreements without hearings.

Notable

The Brewers signed left-handed pitcher Justin Wilson to a $1 million, one-year contract with a club option for 2024.

Michael Harris II