Justin Upton Exits Sunday’s Win Early with Hamstring Cramp

Aug 11, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Justin Upton (8) comes out of the game with an injury in the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

As mentioned in Sunday’s recap of the Braves’ 9-4 victory over the Miami Marlins, Justin Upton exited the festivities early as a result of a diagnosed left hamstring cramp.

The Braves official Twitter account broke the story during the game, but it is important to note that this was the best case scenario after Upton’s departure. Earlier, I penned an update on the Upton situation for FanSided and, in the final stanzas, I reflected a bit on his importance:

"Braves fans can dance in the streets, as Upton’s cramp diagnosis likely means that he will be available very soon, if not for the team’s next game as they host Philadelphia on Monday night. That is fantastic news because of the hot streak Upton has been on recently, having produced a .322/.379/.575 slash line with 6 home runs since the All-Star break.It hasn’t been the picture-perfect season that many foresaw for Upton after his blazing-hot start in April, but he has rebounded nicely just as the Braves have gone on an amazing winning binge. He is certainly key to the success of the NL’s best team, and it appears that he’ll be back in the lineup in the immediate future."

While this content above is obviously skewed for a non-Braves audience, the fact that Justin Upton has been on a tear is no secret. Carlos Collazo broke down his recent surge earlier in the week, and he continued his hot hitting at times against Miami. As we move forward, it will be an important to the Braves success to see a healthy, hot-hitting Upton in the lineup, and any improvement on his previously lackluster defense (this could be its own post) would also be a significant win.