In the seventh round of the
1991 draft, the
Cleveland Indians chose Harris, then a recent graduate of
Lancaster High School in
Lancaster, South Carolina. He was a
replacement player during the
1994–95 Major League Baseball strike, pitching in one inning of one game during
spring training in 1995. He spent that season in class AA, and on February 15, 1996, the Indians traded Harris and pitcher
Jason Grimsley to the California Angels for pitcher
Brian Anderson. On August 5, Harris started in the
Hall of Fame game, giving up three runs in seven innings against the Expos, and on August 14 he was called up to the Angels, taking the roster spot of
Jim Abbott. He made his major league debut that night against the Indians, pitching 2 scoreless innings and
striking out three batters in an 8-7 win for the Angels. Harris would go on to spend three seasons with the Angels, chiefly as a relief pitcher. From 1996 through 1998, he earned 10 wins and five losses in 121 games pitched, posting a 3.92
ERA in 172
innings pitched. Due to his work as a replacement player, however, he was not allowed to join the
Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). Angels player representative
Troy Percival argued in favor of Harris's reinstatement for 30 minutes in front of the union's executive board, but was unsuccessful. ==Personal life==