6:15pm: Harris has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain in his hamstring, Snitker told reporters (including MLB.com’s Mark Bowman) this afternoon. Snitker noted that there is no clear timeline for Harris’s return to action beyond the fact that he will be out for “a long time.”
JUNE 15, 9:26am: The Braves officially placed Harris on the 10-day IL, with the injury termed a left hamstring strain. Laureano’s contract was selected to the 26-man roster, and Strider was moved to the 60-day IL to open up a 40-man roster spot.
JUNE 14: The Braves will place Michael Harris II on the 10-day injured list tomorrow, manager Brian Snitker told reporters (X link via Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution). Atlanta’s center fielder came up lame while running the bases in tonight’s win over the Rays. He left the game with what the team called left hamstring tightness.
Harris will go for an MRI on Saturday to determine the extent of the injury. It is evidently serious enough for the Braves to rule Harris out for at least 10 days before the imaging. It seems likely he’ll be diagnosed with a strain of some degree, though that’ll be clearer over the weekend.
The former Rookie of the Year has started all 67 games in center field. J.P. Martínez came off the bench to handle the position tonight, the first time anyone other than Harris has played a single center field inning for Atlanta this year. Harris hasn’t had a great third MLB season, turning in a .250/.295/.358 batting line through 278 trips to the plate. He’d been an above-average hitter in each of his first two campaigns, rebounding from a slow start last season with a massive .325/.356/.522 showing in the second half.
Even with Harris struggling at the plate, he’s a tough player to replace. He’s an anchor in the outfield as one of the sport’s top defensive center fielders. The Braves don’t have a clear option to step into center field in his stead. Martínez will probably get the first crack at it, but he’s a 28-year-old rookie with 53 MLB plate appearances under his belt. Atlanta acquired the Cuban-born outfielder in a minor trade with the Rangers over the winter. Martínez has spent the bulk of the season at Triple-A Gwinnett, hitting .265/.337/.394 with a 25.8% strikeout rate across 190 plate appearances.
Snitker didn’t announce who would replace Harris on the roster. David O’Brien of the Athletic observes (on X) that Ramón Laureano was pulled midway through tonight’s game for Gwinnett. Laureano signed a minor league deal a couple weeks ago, shortly after he was released by the Guardians. He has plenty of center field experience and could see some action there, but he has primarily been a corner outfielder over the last three seasons.
Laureano didn’t hit at all for Cleveland early in the season. The right-handed hitter fanned in 38.6% of his plate appearances en route to a .143/.265/.229 slash line over 31 games. Laureano has been on a tear in Gwinnett, carrying a .333/.403/.593 line with a trio of homers into tonight’s action. Atlanta would need to add him to the 40-man roster to bring him up. That’s not much of an issue, as the Braves can move Spencer Strider to the 60-day injured list whenever they need to open a 40-man spot.
If Harris is out for an extended stretch, that would only increase the urgency for the Braves to acquire outfield help at the deadline. That already looked like a priority once Atlanta lost Ronald Acuña Jr. to another ACL tear. They’ve been forced to rely on both Adam Duvall and Jarred Kelenic as everyday players (instead of their planned left field platoon) since Acuña went down.
How is Kelenic in center? He’s definitely solid in left.
-22 drs in 109 career games, so not very good.
Thanks. After I saw your post I looked into it too. Definitely not good in past in CF. I like him in left. After seeing Rosario (not horrible but no range) Kelenic seems like a blessing.
Maybe Kelenic was having a bad day, but he cost Atlanta a couple of runs at the game I went to a couple weeks ago (loss to the A’s). Braves need to replace duvals poor defense for sure.
Well honestly this year I haven’t watched most games, I’ve seen highlights and it seems like Kelenic makes difficult plays frequently but he may very well have his problems that I don’t get to see. What strikes me is the range when I see a highlight and know it’s a ball that in the past was easily getting down.
I knew it would be hard when Strider went down for the season then Acuna was even worse. Phillies running away with the division. hopefully Harris won’t be out long. Looks like Braves are playing for the wild card now.
Next 6 weeks will be telling. PHI’s schedule definitely toughens into July (ATL, LAD, CLE, MIN, NYY)
I think too much is being made of soft and tough schedules. The thing about it is, the majority of teams this year are just terrible.So yes, the Phillies play some contenders in the coming weeks. They started with a win in Baltimore. But they still have plenty of garbage teams for the rest of the season, as does everyone.
Possibly, but do we really know who the garbage teams are? While a few teams have hit their stride already, bats should warm with weather which we’re now into, not to mention all the early season injuries that have belabored teams. PHI has played well, but their strength of schedule during that stretch was much easier than the rest of the league. May not be a much of a point if they keep winning.
Did you really include Atlanta in the toughens category with the likes of LAD, CLE, and NYY?
No offense you need to be honest right now, the Braves look pretty bad. Not sure if we can count them in the “toughens” category for the Phillies at the moment.
It is head to head though and an opportunity that I won’t deny. They need to get it together though or it’ll be an easy Philly sweep
Braves bats are starting to come alive the last three games and Olsen and Riley are heating up so yes the Braves are included in teams that will be hard to play against.
Games against teams .500 or better:
Phillies 13-6
Braves 10-13
Not too much of a difference in total games but drastically different results. But this is baseball with a lot of games left to play. I won’t be sure of anything until the math is 100%.
Running away with the division hasn’t translated well in the playoffs
@Mercenary Freddie Freeman
How’s the weather outside, is it ‘fairweather’?
Imagine calling yourself a ‘fan’ and giving up 90+ games to go.
@Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman
I didn’t mean to sound harsh, but never give in.
All the Braves need to do is get on a roll for a while, it won’t be easy, but it’s entirely possible. Keep the faith my man, not like the people on twitter and the like saying “sack Snitker” etc. I don’t always agree with some of his moves, but I have never blamed him for some of the offensive woes or lack of execution with risp we have had.
Yeah, they still need an extra OF. Duvall is worn out from everyday play and can’t hit at all.
Laureano is at least a body to put out there if you have to before Harris recovers, but don’t expect much at the plate. CLE will also give you Myles Straw for the asking if you just pick up the rest of his contract. Can he hit, you ask? Uh, let’s talk about his speed and defense instead.
Ramon is just OK without the roids.
Nothing special.
I liked him while he was on the juice. He was a fun player to watch when he was jacked.
Luis Robert makes a lot of sense for the Braves.
Replacing an injured CF with a CF waiting to get injured doesn’t make sense for anyone
If only they’d known: They could have had Victor Robles for a song.
So now the luckiest team in baseball the Yankees gets to face the Braves without Strider, Acuna, and Harris. No wonder they’re 50-22. They aren’t even that good everyone is just having a good year and the Yankees pull this BS every few years and waste a playoff spot just to keep their precious winning seasons streak alive.
That’s silly. The Yankees are very good.
Soto makes them the best team in the AL after being 82-80 in 2023?
Kinsler is gone, dj is a bench player, rodon is actually pitching well, Stanton is hitting again and they have a 1-2 punch. Relatively easy schedule so far against teams below .500. July and facing teams with winning records will tell if they are that good.
Kinsler?
The Yankees are the best team in baseball. And I’m a fan of a different AL team. It’s just the basic facts.
LOL! I don’t how that pitching staff does it! They’re like some thoroughbreds possibly: better than looked.
This would never have happened had Snitker not gone to the bullpen in the 7th inning Wednesday
– Braves comments section, probably
harris looked like the next superstar after his ROY campaign in 2022. julio/acuna lite. he had an underwhelming sophomore season, and a very disappointing 2024. still young, what is he, 23?
Why does this sound like you’re emulating the orange disaster…
Anyway his 23’ season was not nearly as bad as you want to make it out…growing pains are to be expected. He is still an exceptional talent and yes only 23!
His sophomore season was nearly identical to his rookie season, statistically. You either had unrealistic expectations for his sophomore season, or you don’t know what the word “underwhelming” means.
You didnt really follow his 2023 season.
You just clicked on his espn profile on the last day of the season & saw similar #s
He didnt take a step forward. He barely managed to stay afloat. I could have said he had a bad 2023 season but i decided to be nice & label it underwhelming.
But 2024 has been downright awful. Statistically, realistically, superficially, and literally.
Oblique or hamstring? Which is it?
Hamstring
Oblique??? I thought it was the Hamstring??
Is this a TYPO??
Lets see if Seitzer can work another miracle and fix Laureano’s bat
Bet Atlanta will be placing a call to the D”Back’s they have four centerfielders Thomas almost ready to be activated, Carroll, McCarthy, and Grichuk. Doubt Carroll would go unless Atlanta makes an unbelievable offer, but the other three could be made available for the right offer. Heck they might even throw in Suarez for 3rd base.
Don’t make that bet. Why would the Braves deal for a 3rd baseman? Austin Riley’s signed for the next 9 years to the biggest deal they’ve ever given to one of their players. Not likely to see them seeking a long term replacement for Harris II either. DBacks will have to find another team to dump Suarez’s awful contract on and those of’ers who can’t hit. Braves have their own all glove, no hit cf’ers at AAA Gwinnett and on the ML roster already. No reason to deal for more of the same.
Grichuk is actually having a pretty decent season, Jeff. I wouldn’t hate that move. If Atlanta could get Grichuk and Pederson for some prospects that are farther away, I’d be good with it. I realize it’d be a hit defensively, but you just can’t replace Acuna Jr. and Harris.
I also want no parts of Suarez, though. The Braves don’t need a 3B, nor is Suarez playing like a particularly good one right now.
Grichuk probably didn’t deserve the no hit label I put on the rest of dawg’s list. Still only has 2 HR’s in 103 ab’s. DBack’s aren’t dealing Carroll off. They didn’t extend him last season to trade him this quickly. Thomas would be an awful target. McCarthy’s not much better. You’re right about not being able to replace Harris II and Acuna.
Grichuk makes a ton of sense.
Oh dear. Braves really experiencing the injury bug! I’m a Nats fan, but have utmost respect for the Braves organization and the way they have built and rebuilt their club over the years. Harris is a fine young player, but between this and the Acuna and catcher issues and the pitchers that have gone down, Snitty has his work cut out for him. Should be interesting watching how they deal with this run of misfortune.
Laureano made good contact in all 3 ab’s today. Let’s see how it ends up….