3 weeks agoAtlanta Braves third baseman
Austin Riley (hand) returned to the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins and went 1-for-3 in the contest with a double while playing third base and batting in the two-hole. Riley was hit by a pitch on his right hand on Friday but was able to return to action a day later. The 27-year-old right-handed slugger is now hitting a cool .310 with an .892 OPS, a homer, three doubles and two runs scored in 12 spring training games. Riley actually suffered a season-ending fractured right hand in mid-August of last year and finished with 19 home runs, 56 RBI and 63 runs scored in just 110 games in 2024 as a result. The two-time All-Star is completely healthy now, though, and should be considered a top-five fantasy third baseman on a strong team after hitting 30-plus home runs in each season from 2021-23.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 weeks agoAtlanta Braves third baseman
Austin Riley (forearm, wrist) left Friday's Grapefruit League game against the division-rival Washington Nationals after he was hit by a pitch in the right forearm/wrist area. Riley passed initial strength tests, and X-rays came back negative for any broken bones, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Justin Toscano. The 27-year-old will now go for a CT scan, with the Braves not saying anything until they have the full update. While it appears Riley avoided a significant injury, he's not out of the woods just yet. We will continue to monitor the situation, but expect him to miss at least a few days in camp. If the CT scan doesn't show anything serious, Riley should be ready for Opening Day in late March. There is more concern here since Riley dealt with a fractured hand in 2024, which wasn't discovered until he had a CT scan. Stay tuned.
UPDATE: Riley is considered day-to-day and will not have to return to Atlanta for further testing.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
2 months agoAtlanta Braves third baseman
Austin Riley (hand) was seen taking batting practice at Braves camp on Wednesday. It's a nice sight for the Braves after Riley's 2024 season was cut short last year due to a fractured hand that he suffered on Aug. 18. The 27-year-old avoided surgery, though, and appears to be full go for spring training this year. If he avoids injuries in 2025, fantasy managers should be getting an elite power hitter that is a good bet to return to the 30-homer mark. The former first-rounder and two-time All-Star hit a combined 75 long balls in 2022 and 2023 but fell to 19 home runs and 56 RBI in just 110 games played last season because of his hand injury. Fantasy managers shouldn't hold his 2024 injury against him in drafts this spring. RotoBaller currently has Riley ranked as the No. 4 fantasy third baseman.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Grant McAuley
6 months agoAtlanta Braves third baseman
Austin Riley (hand) will not return this season, according to manager Brian Snitker. Riley's hand simply was not healing fast enough after he had a CT scan on Monday. Even if the Braves sneak into the postseason in a wild-card spot, Riley will not be able to help them out in October. It's a big blow to a team that basically needs to win each game this week to have a shot at getting into the playoffs. The 27-year-old right-handed slugger is out with a fractured hand and will finish a disappointing year after making the All-Star squad in both 2022 and 2023. In 110 games played in 2024, he slashed .256/.322/.461 with a .783 OPS, 19 home run, 56 RBI and 63 runs scored. Riley had clubbed 30-plus homers in each of the previous three seasons. The slick-fielding
Gio Urshela should be Atlanta's primary third baseman the rest of the way.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Grant McAuley
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