NEW YORK — For the past three weeks, the Braves have played without Michael Harris II, one of the integral parts of their lineup in all phases of the game. He can do it all, from providing pop to robbing home runs to stealing bases.
The Braves have depth, but Harris is irreplaceable.
And now he returns for a huge four-game series versus the Mets.
The Braves on Friday activated Harris, who has recovered from a lower back strain. They removed outfielder Eli White from the paternity list and optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett, and they did this after optioning outfielder Nick Solak to Gwinnett following Thursday’s game.
Harris is healthy, which is a relief for him.
“It feels good,” he said Friday. “You obviously need your back for a lot of things. Even sleep – sleeping, you need your back because of tossing and turning throughout the night. It feels good to actually be able to be comfortable and do a lot of things and be back here with the team.”
This is big for the Braves. Not only do they get an important player back, but they can keep using their depth – just in a different way.
Before the injury, Harris was 5-for-23 with an RBI and two stolen bases. He hadn’t yet found his rhythm at the plate. But he’s someone with the potential to hit at least 20 home runs. He also gives the Braves one more speed threat on the bases.
Of course, Harris also is one of the better defensive center fielders in baseball. He just so happens to also feature a great bat, and it’s rare to have both – to the level he does – at that position.
“Obviously it’s good to have him back,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He’s a big part of what we’re trying to do and a big player for us, and he had two really solid rehab starts. Physically, he was really good. He was sliding, he was doing everything that we wanted to see him do. We felt like he’s been out long enough, it’s time to get him back working.”
In Harris’ absence, Sam Hilliard shined. Hilliard, who had one plate appearance over the first six games, hit .296 with an .893 OPS after Harris went down. He hit four doubles and three homers. Hitting at the bottom of the lineup, he drove in six runs.
And he played incredible defense. One example: In San Diego, he took a home run away from Manny Machado.
During this stretch, Hilliard proved he deserves playing time when Harris returns. It won’t come in center field, but the Braves could use him in left field. There’s an opportunity for Snitker to use Hilliard (a left-handed hitter) and Kevin Pillar (a right-handed hitter) as a platoon in left field because the two are the Braves’ best defensive options at that position.
Snitker said he might use Harris as a designated hitter on certain days if necessary. The Braves will just evaluate it, as they do with everything. This would provide an opportunity for Hilliard to see a few starts in center field.
Over the season’s first two weeks, Pillar didn’t see a ton of playing time. Since the series opener in Kansas City on April 14, he has played in 10 of 13 games. He’s only hit .235 in that stretch, but he’s driven in four runs. He’s also hit two doubles and a homer. Like Hilliard, Pillar has played terrific defense.
Travis d’Arnaud (concussion) is still sidelined, which means Eddie Rosario and Marcell Ozuna could share the time at designated hitter, as the first is a left-handed hitter, and the second is a right-handed hitter. Rosario could get starts in left, but with Harris back, using Hilliard or Pillar there maximizes the Braves’ outfield defense.
Back to Harris.
In Friday’s 4-0 win over the Mets, Harris went 0-for-2 with a run scored. He reached base after a nine-pitch at-bat that ended when Harris grounded a ball to third base. Mets third baseman Brett Baty went home for the out, but Harris worked a great at-bat before the Braves scored four runs that eventually decided the rain-shortened game.
Among the boxes Harris had to check to be activated: Taking full swings without discomfort, sliding effortlessly and tracking fly balls.
When a team is as deep as the Braves, it can be easy to forget that, well, they’re probably without one of their best players. Last season, Harris won National League Rookie of the Year. Entering spring training, many people viewed him as one of the Braves’ more impactful players, a rising star who is firmly part of the core.
The Braves played well without Harris. They are 18-9 and are in first place in the NL East.
And now they’ll get a boost from the return of Harris, who has had the itch to play since he hit the injured list.
“I felt it the first night,” Harris said. “From the first day, I was sitting in dugout watching the game. Anybody can tell you: I was in the I was in the cage laying on the ground throwing the ball up to myself, because I didn’t know what to do. I was just trying to find ways to get through nine innings without pulling my hair out.”
Iglesias has a good start to his rehab assignment
Raisel Iglesias on Thursday threw a perfect 12-pitch inning for Triple-A Gwinnett to begin his rehab assignment. He struck out one batter.
“It’s a good first step, really, for him,” Snitker said.
The rehab assignment means Iglesias is as close as ever to joining the Braves. Snitker said he didn’t know how many rehab appearances Iglesias would need.
D’Arnaud continues to progress
Snitker said the training staff worked out d’Arnaud (concussion) on Friday. They added a few things, the manager said.
D’Arnaud is day to day.
“With him, as they add things, it’s something new and just see how he reacts,” Snitker said.
