Chicago White Sox outfielder Austin Hays is breathing a sigh of relief after an MRI revealed his recent hamstring injury is less severe than initially feared. The left fielder, who exited Monday's game against the Baltimore Orioles after pulling up while chasing a fly ball, has been diagnosed with a low-grade strain.

"When it first happened, I thought it was going to be worse," Hays said Thursday. "Obviously not a great situation. But I think for what it is, we got the best possible news."

While the Sox placed Hays on the 10-day injured list, the recovery timeline appears optimistic. Manager Will Venable estimated a two-to-four week absence, and Hays is hopeful his body will respond quickly. He noted that the injury felt better the next morning than expected, a positive early sign for healing.

"I’ve had low-grade strains in the past, and you’re kind of in that two-to-three-week range when you start feeling like you can really let it go," Hays explained. For now, the focus is on a diligent rehab process to get the key contributor back patrolling the outfield and adding his bat to the lineup as soon as possible.