Page 192 - 2021 ATL Media Guide

FRONT OFFICE AUSTIN 27
RILEY

INFIELDER
Full Name: Michael Austin Riley Throws: Right
MANAGER & STAFF Height: 6-3 Weight: 240
Bats: Right

DOB: April 2, 1997
Opening Day Age: 23
Born: Memphis, TN
MLB Debut: May 15, 2019 Resides: Hernando, MS
MLB Service Time: 1.138
Acquired: Braves’ Competitive Balance A pick (41st overall) in 2015
Contract Status: Signed through 2021
AUSTIN RILEY 2020

• In his second major-league season, played in 51 CAREER HIGHS
games and hit .239/.301/.415 (45-for-188) with
seven doubles, eight home runs, 27 RBI and 24 Most Runs
runs scored. 5, 9/9/20, ATL vs. MIA
SEASON IN REVIEW • Hit eight home runs, reaching the 20-homer and Most Hits
• Started all 51 games, 45 of which were at
third base…Also made starts in left field (4)
3, 4x, last: 6/12/19, ATL vs. PIT
and first base (2).
Most Doubles
25-homer milestones of his career.
• Hit his 20th home run on 8/4 off Toronto's 1, 18x, last: 9/21/20, ATL vs. MIA
Most Triples
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT • For both milestones, was the fourth Most Home Runs
Matt Shoemaker, and hit his 25th career
1, 2x, last: 8/31/20, ATL at BOS
homer in Game 2 of a doubleheader on
9/4 vs. Washington, off Will Crowe.
1, 26x, last: 9/18/20, ATL at NYM
quickest player by games played in
franchise history to reach that total,
4, 5/29/19, ATL vs. WSH
trailing Wally Berger, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Most RBI
Bob Horner.
Most Walks
• His eight home runs traveled an average of
BRAVES HISTORY a projected 424 feet, the third farthest in the Most Stolen Bases
2, 5x, last: 9/25/20, ATL vs. BOS
majors, trailing Marcell Ozuna (429 ft.) and
Seattle's Ty France (425 ft.)...France hit just four
None
home runs.
• Two of his homers went over 450 feet... Longest Hitting Streak
One was 471 feet, off the Nationals' Will 9 games, 8/26-9/4/20
Crowe on 9/4[2], the third longest by a
Braves player in 2020.
OPPONENTS • The other, off the Mets’ Corey Oswalt on • Over half (15) of his 27 RBI came with two
7/26, went 458 feet and caromed off Citi's
outs...In those situations, had a .446 slugging
Field third deck.
percentage (2 2B, 4 HR).
• Only one of Riley’s homers came on a fastball... • Struck out in just 23.8% of his plate appearances,
Hit .281/.328/.632 (16-for-57) off breaking pitches better than the 36.4% strikeout rate he had in 2019.
(sliders and curves)...In 2019, his rookie season, • His 32.4% chase rate and 30.1% whiff rate
hit .195 against these pitches and struck out in 38
MISCELLANEOUS 192 2021 ATLANTA BRAVES MEDIA GUIDE totals he had in 2019 (37.7% chase rate
were both considerably lower than the
of his 86 plate appearances (41.9%).
and 38.7% whiff rate).