Chris Harris, Director of Communications, Media & Broadcasting for the Mississippi Braves spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the club’s February 26, 2019 meeting. He was accompanied by Tim Mueller, the club’s Assistant General Manager and Director of Sales.
Chris enters his 11th season in minor league baseball and second with the Mississippi Braves as Director of Communications and radio "Voice of the M-Braves".
The two-time Southern League Broadcaster of the Year (2013 and 2017) served the past three years as the Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting for the Southern League's Biloxi Shuckers. Before moving to Biloxi in 2015, Harris served as Manager of Media Relations and Broadcasting and eventually Vice President of Communications for the Jackson Generals in Jackson, TN from 2009-2014, earning his first Southern League Broadcaster of the Year award in 2013.
Harris led the public relations efforts for Biloxi's move into MGM Park after a 54-game road trip in 2015 and oversaw the national coverage of the historical beginning of the franchise. Harris was once again recognized by the league in 2017, being awarded the Southern League Broadcaster of the Year award for the second time.
In his talk, Harris said that the Mississippi Braves team is the Atlanta Braves AA affiliate, that the club is owned and operated by the Atlanta Braves, and that it plays in the Southern League with teams from throughout the Southeast. Other Braves affiliates range from the Rookie League to the AAA where the Gwinnett Stripers compete. He stated that opening day is April 10 and that the MS Braves want to be viewed as family entertainment. Trustmark Park, where the Braves play, will have its 15th season in 2019 and is very well designed and built. It has a capacity of about 8,500 and expects to welcome its 3 millionth guest this season. To permit play except during rain, the field has 8,000 ft. of drainage pipe.
Mr. Harris discussed notable MS Braves alumni and the promotion and special events for the season. The “takeaway” from his speech is the family orientation os Central MIssissippi’s team. Y’all come!
We thank Messrs Harris and Meuller for coming to our meeting and invite them to return. Mr. Mueller, a longtime Rotarian, is invited to consider moving his membership to our club. Mr. Mueller(second from left) and Mr. Harris (second from right) are shown in the following photo withClub Director Lori Greer (left) and Club President Anna Powers (right)following Mr. Harris’ presentation.
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