Braves Place Reigning NL Rookie Of The Year On 10-Day IL; Recall OF

The Atlanta Braves have been forced to shuffle due to outfielder Michael Harris II suffering a lower back strain.

Harris suffered the injury during the team's home opener on Thursday after colliding with the outfield wall. Initially listed as day-to-day, Harris was eventually placed on the 10-day injured list as a precautionary measure.

News: Michael Harris II was placed on the 10-day injured list with a lower back strain. The Braves recalled Eli White to take his place.

— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) April 7, 2023

Fortunately, his injury is not considered severe, and he is expected to return to the field after the 10-day period.

In the meantime, outfielder Eli White has been recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Harris' place on the roster. Although White has a weak career batting line of .185/.260/.296 in 389 plate appearances at the major league level, he impressed during spring training with the Braves and has continued his strong play in Triple-A.

While he is expected to see plenty of action in the outfield, it remains to be seen how much impact he will have at the major league level.

#Braves OF Eli White has 3 HR, 5 RBI, 4R, 2 SB, and a 1.115 OPS in 4 games with Triple-A Gwinnett thus far.

In addition to his plus-defense, White made some swing adjustments over the winter. He should get some chances to show those off with Michael Harris II out for a while. pic.twitter.com/KjvxwSY2Vd

— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) April 7, 2023

The Braves are also exploring other options to cover Harris' absence, including Sam Hilliard, Kevin Pillar, and others. Hilliard started in center field during Friday's game against the San Diego Padres, batting ninth against right-hander Nick Martinez.

Harris, the 2022 National League Rookie of the Year, has struggled in the first seven games of the season, hitting .217 with one double, one RBI, and two stolen bases.

Last season, to win the NL Rookie of the Year honors, the 22-year-old slashed a fantastic .297/.339/.514, with 19 home runs, 64 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, and 75 runs scored across 114 games played.

The Braves are undoubtedly eager to get him back on the field, but are taking a cautious approach to ensure that he makes a full recovery. Photo Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports