When Will Michael Harris II Return and Be Back? Fantasy Baseball Injury Update

No National League contender has dealt with more injuries to their star players than the Atlanta Braves this season.

Spencer Strider went down in the first week of the season. Then Ronald Acuna Jr. was lost for the year a few months later. Ozzie Albies and Max Fried have suffered injuries in the last month, too.

Michael Harris II, who slid into the leadoff role that Acuna had occupied, got hurt in mid-June. Harris has been on the IL ever since with a hamstring injury and was transferred to the 60-day IL after Atlanta realized the severity of his injury. Can Harris return in time to help Atlanta make a push for a Wild Card berth and another postseason appearance?

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Michael Harris II Injury Update for Fantasy Baseball

Harris is eligible to come off the IL on August 14, which would still give him about six weeks of the regular season left in which to make a fantasy impact.

Michael Harris II is working out before the games and progressing through his rehab for a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. https://t.co/pS2laLnF2d

— Atlanta Journal-Constitution (@ajc) July 27, 2024

The reports out of Atlanta are encouraging as far as his progress. An official timeline for him, however, to start a rehab assignment has not been announced but could be coming in the next week.

After missing two months of action, Harris would likely need at least a week or two of action in the minors to ramp up his game.

Michael Harris II Fantasy Baseball Outlook

Harris had a somewhat underwhelming first half for Atlanta, hitting .250 but with only a .295 OBP and .358 SLG. He's smacked five home runs and stolen just eight bases in the 67 games in which he's been active.

Most fantasy managers were expecting more after Harris posted 19 home runs and 20 steals in 2022 and then followed that up with 18 home runs and another 20 steals in 2023.

Harris is a career .280 hitter through his first three seasons and has the potential to be a really valuable fantasy asset due to his speed and solid contact tools. Managers have to hold onto Harris with an IL spot for a few more weeks and hope that his rehab goes smoothly because he has major upside for the final month and a half of the season - especially if Atlanta slots him back into the leadoff role that Jarred Kelenic had since Harris went down.

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