Braves call ‘Hot’ Bat to replace Michael Harris II

To replace injured center fielder Michael Harris II, David O’Brien of The Athletic reported that the Atlanta Braves have recalled an outfielder who has been on fire lately for Triple-A Gwinnett. The outfielder also has plenty of big league experience – Ramón Laureano.

The 29-year-old went 3-for-4 Friday night to improve his batting average to .362 at Triple-A. He also has a 1.028 OPS in 66 plate appearances.

Laureano made his debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2018. After five full seasons with the Athletics, he finished last season and started 2024 with the Cleveland Guardians.

The Braves signed Laureano for more organizational depth after the Guardians released Laureano in late May. Laureano hit .143 for the Guardians before his release, but hopefully his success in Gwinnett can translate to the Braves.

Laureano also hit numerous home runs during his short time with the Braves organization.

With the Braves bitten by injuries this season, it remains to be seen if the seven-year veteran can contribute on the spot for a few weeks while Harris heals.

Braves Place Michael Harris II on 10 Day IL

Harris suffered a left hamstring injury late in Friday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The severity of the situation became apparent when Harris, while running the bases on a double from teammate Ozzie Albies, began to show signs of discomfort, visibly limping as he rounded second base en route to the third.

While Harris’ absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Braves, the potential of his replacement by AAA should be a source of excitement for both the 40-man team and fans. Laureano could have a significant impact.