Braves CF Michael Harris II leaves Friday win with hamstring injury

After scoring 13 runs in the last two matchups, both wins, the Atlanta Braves offense appears poised to get back on track. But the Braves will have to keep hitting without one of their new lead men – Michael Harris II.

The center fielder left Friday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays with a left hamstring strain in the first inning. David O’Brien of the Athletic reported that Harris will be placed on the 15-day injured list.

“It’s tough,” third baseman Austin Riley said, via O’Brien. “What he does at center, and obviously in our lineup, you hate it. It really is. It looks like we’ve been bitten by injuries a little bit this year, but it’s got to be the next guy’s mentality.

Harris was in fact already an example of the “next man up” mentality. Right fielder Ronald Acuña is usually Atlanta’s lead man, but Acuña suffered a season-ending ACL injury on May 26.

Since then, in 17 games, Harris has led off in the Braves lineup 11 times. He primarily leads when the opposition starts a right-handed pitcher.

Harris had better batting results later in the lineup this season, but on Friday he singled to lead off the bottom of the first. His hit started a 5-run rally that gave the Braves a 5-1 lead.

Harris suffered a hamstring injury while running from first to third on second baseman Ozzie Albies’ double during the second at-bat of the inning.

In first place, Harris is hitting .205 with 3 extra base hits and a .576 OPS in 12 games this season. Harris is slashing .250/.250/.417 when starting a game this year.

The 23-year-old also has a .250 batting average overall with 16 extra-base hits, including 5 home runs in 67 games in 2024. He has also recorded 30 runs and 20 RBIs.

Veteran JP Martinez replaced Harris on Friday. Without Harris, the Braves will be missing two of their opening day starting outfielders for at least the next 15 days.

Albies, who has led primarily against left-handed pitchers since Acuña’s injury, will likely hit first until Harris returns.