Austin Riley: Atlanta Braves Rising Star

Early Life and Career

Born on April 2, 1997, Michael Austin Riley is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Riley, who was born in Oxford, Mississippi, began his baseball career at DeSoto Central High School.

After graduating from high school, Riley was selected by the Braves in the first round (41st overall) of the 2015 MLB draft. He spent the next few seasons playing in the Braves' minor league system, before making his MLB debut in 2019.

MLB Career Highlights

2021 Season

Riley had a breakout season in 2021, establishing himself as a rising star in the MLB. He batted .303 with 33 home runs and 101 RBIs, earning him his first All-Star selection. Riley was also named the National League (NL) Silver Slugger Award winner at third base and finished seventh in the NL MVP voting.

2022 Season

In 2022, Riley continued to impress, earning his second All-Star selection. He finished the season with a .273 batting average, 29 home runs, and 90 RBIs. Riley also won the NL Player of the Week award twice during the season and was named to the All-MLB First Team at third base.

Records and Milestones

In July 2022, Riley broke one of Hank Aaron's records by becoming the fastest Braves player to reach 100 career home runs. He achieved this milestone in just 439 games, breaking Aaron's previous record of 440 games.

Riley's impressive performance has earned him recognition as one of the best young players in the MLB. He is known for his power hitting, strong defense, and leadership abilities.