Braves place Harris on injured list with lower back strain
Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II looks at tablet in the dugout during the fourth inning of the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Saturday, April 1, 2023, in Washington. Credit: AP/Alex Brandon
ATLANTA — Braves center fielder Michael Harris II has been placed on the injured list with a lower back strain.
Harris, last season's NL Rookie of the Year, appeared to be injured as he slid awkwardly while stealing second base in Atlanta's 7-6 victory over San Diego on Thursday.
Harris also hit the outfield wall in St. Louis on Wednesday while chasing a fly ball, but manager Brian Snitker indicated the injury occurred on the slide.
Snitker said doesn't want to push Harris, who is stiff.
“We want to get him right," Snitker said. "He probably would've missed four or five days, so we decided to go ahead and take care of this.”
Harris left Thursday's game and was replaced by Sam Hilliard, who is starting in his spot Friday against the Padres. Harris knelt in pain for a few seconds after stealing the base. He played another inning in the field, but was replaced in the top of the fourth.
“He's a guy that plays all out,” Snitker said. “Not afraid to run into a wall to make a play. He will dive. He's stealing bases. So it's just strained. It's nothing big. I don't think it's anything that we think a stint on the (IL) won't take care of.”
Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II (23) loses his glasses as he hits the outfield wall catching a fly ball by St. Louis Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt to end the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Jeff Roberson
Outfielder Eli White was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Harris' spot on the roster.
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