Atlanta Braves leadoff hitter and center fielder Michael Harris II was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday after he left the team's 7-3 win against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night with a strained left hamstring.
Harris led off the first inning with a single off right-hander Zack Littell. When Ozzie Albies followed with a double down the right-field line, Harris advanced to third base but showed discomfort and he pulled up before reaching third base.
Braves manager Brian Snitker and assistant athletic trainer Jeff Stevenson visited Harris at third base and made the quick decision to remove him from the game. J.P. Martinez entered as a pinch runner for Harris and replacement in center field.
"He said he felt something," Snitker said. "That's usually not good."
Also on Saturday, the Braves selected Ramon Laureano to the major league roster and transferred right-hander Spencer Strider to the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster. Strider is expected to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow with an internal brace.
With Harris out, Martínez could be part of the team's answer in center field.
"Somebody is going to get an opportunity to do something good," Snitker said. "We'll decide tonight who that's going to be."
Martínez scored on Marcell Ozuna's three-run homer in the Braves' five-run inning.
The Braves lost right fielder and reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. to a season-ending knee injury May 26. Acuña had surgery in Los Angeles to repair a torn ACL in his left knee.
Acuña tore his right ACL on July 20, 2021, and came back strong with his 2023 MVP season.
Laureano, 29, batted .143 with one homer and four RBIs in 31 games with the Cleveland Guardians this season. The Guardians released Laureano on May 25 before the Braves signed him four days later.
The Associated Press and Field Level Media contributed to this report.