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Austin Riley- 2022 Player Outlook- Elite Power, Due For Regression In Batting Average
3 years agoAtlanta Braves' third baseman Austin Riley had a career year in 2021, slashing .303/.367/.531 with 33 home runs, 107 RBI, 91 runs scored over 662 plate appearances last season. The 24-year-old blew his 2021 projections (.246-29-79) out of the water and became one of the best fantasy values in drafts last year. Riley was an offensive force in 2021, posting career-highs in homers, slugging percentage (.531), and WOBA (.379). He is expected to hit cleanup for a Braves lineup that should be potent again in 2022 with Ozzie Albies, Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuna, and potentially NLCS MVP Eddie Rosario returning. Riley's Statcast data shows that the Braves third baseman isn't a one-hit-wonder, but fantasy managers can't expect Riley to hit .300 again, seeing as how he was a career .283 hitter in the minors and had an unsustainable .368 BAIP in 2021. Steamer is on board with Riley being productive in 2022, projecting a .356 WOBA with a .274/.340/.500 slash line. According to RotoBaller's Expected Draft Values, Riley's Steamer projection makes him roughly fair value at his current NFBC ADP of 56. The Braves slugger should provide fantasy managers elite power and solid counting stats at a scarce position in 2022.
