When Michael Harris II was pulled early from the Atlanta Braves' game against the Giants on Tuesday, it was a punch in the gut. The Braves had just gotten Drake Baldwin back from the IL, and he immediately and emphatically announced his return with a 473-foot bomb to dead center in the rain. Instead of getting to celebrate that, Braves fans were instead treated to more injury-related anxiety involving Harris. In this case, the anxiety may be justified.
Look, every player deals with injuries at some point. 162 games is a long schedule, so everyone gets banged up. If Harris' back issue were a one-time thing, it wouldn't merit much concern.
However, this isn't even the first time this month that Harris' back has caused him problems. Given that context, this could be a real problem for the Braves' chances this season.
Michael Harris II's back issues are starting to become a genuine concern for the Braves
Importantly, we don't know the exact severity of Harris' back issues, and there is a very good chance that he and the Braves are just being particularly cautious. It is still relatively early in the season, after all, and it is of paramount importance that Harris is able to be available for the stretch run.
That said, it was very clear that something was really bothering Harris on Tuesday night. He roped a single in the first inning, which was great, but he could have potentially pushed for second base if he had tried. That he DIDN'T try or at least think about it was atypical for him, and his jaunt home from second base did not have the same speed or energy as we are accustomed to from him.
Now, if this were a rolled ankle or a bone bruise or something, it would be different. There are some injuries that are just about pain tolerance and how they are acting on any given night. Soft tissue injuries and back injuries are different animals, and that is exactly why quad, oblique, and back injuries often involve longer return timelines. If you want to look at one of the worst-case scenarios with back injuries, go look up how much Christian Yelich was hampered by back issues before he had surgery in 2024.
In short, back injuries are spooky, and Harris's is one to monitor. This is the second time in the month of June that his back has impacted his playing time. Given his importance to the Braves' offense right now, the team needs to figure out exactly what they are dealing with here and get him right quickly. Otherwise, this is a problem that could easily crop up again and again this season, and that could prove even more costly.
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