Page 194 - 2021 ATL Media Guide

AUSTIN RILEY
FRONT OFFICE • Also is the fastest Braves player in the • Following the season, played for the Peoria
modern era to five career home runs (9
Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League..Had
games)…At the time, only eight other
12 extra-base hits and 18 RBI in 17 games…
major leaguers had hit at least five homers
Game and to the Top Prospects Team.
in their first nine games…The only other Was named to both the AFL Fall-Stars
22-year-old to accomplish the feat was • Hit for the cycle on 10/26 with Peoria,
Toronto’s Carlos Delgado (1993-94). going 4-for-6 with five RBI…Logged the
MANAGER & STAFF on 5/29, off Washington’s Kyle McGowin, • Tabbed by the Braves’ as Single-A Rome’s Player
• His seventh home run was a grand slam
first cycle in the AFL since 2008.
in his 14th career game…Became the
of the Year in 2016, his first full professional
second player in Atlanta franchise history
season...Led Atlanta farmhands in home runs
(since 1966) to hit that type of homer
within in his first 14 career games, joining (20), doubles (39) and total bases (237).
• Named a Baseball America Low Class A
Marcus Giles, who accomplished the feat All-Star…Finished second in the South
in 2005. Atlantic League in home runs and
AUSTIN RILEY • Recorded his 25th career RBI in the 18th game of • Had eight RBI in seven postseason games
doubles, and third in RBI.
his career...Since RBI became an official statistic
in 1920, Riley was the second fastest player to 25
as Rome won the SAL Championship.
RBI, by games played, in major-league history… • After getting drafted in 2015, played for the
Only the Cubs’ Mandy Brooks in 1925 reached GCL Braves and Rookie-Advanced Danville…
the mark quicker, recording his 25th RBI in his Led the GCL Braves with seven home runs… Was
17th career game. Danville’s Player of the Year, hitting .351 (39-for-
SEASON IN REVIEW games…That tied Ryan Klesko (1994) for the most 111) in 30 games with the club…His .933 OPS
• Hit 16 home runs by the All-Star break, in just 49
between the two stops paced all minor leaguers
homers by a Braves rookie prior to the break.
in the system.
• Has no career game-ending RBI.
• Has been on the injured list just once in his • Named by Baseball America as the “Best
Pure Hitter,” “Best Power Hitter” and “Best
major-league career…Missed 28 games with a Athlete” among the Braves 2015 draft
right knee sprain in August 2019.
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT minor league notes • At DeSoto Central High School in Southaven,
class, a class that included RHP Mike
Soroka and LHP A.J. Minter.
• Prior to his first major-league call up in 2019, was Amateur
leading the Triple-A International League in home
runs (15), RBI (39), extra-base hits (25), total bases
(98) and runs (32) …He had 13 home runs over Miss., was a pitcher and shortstop…In his senior
year, helped the Jaguars win the MHSAA 6A State
his last 18 games with Gwinnett, including three Championship after hitting .423 with 11 homers
multi-homer efforts.
and 31 RBI at the plate and going 7-2 with a 2.70
BRAVES HISTORY • Named the International League Player of ERA and 82 strikeouts on the mound.
the Week for the period of 5/6-12…Batted
• As a pitcher, he topped out at 94 mph
.296 (8-for-27) with four home runs.
with his fastball…Also threw a curveball.
• Was the Braves’ Minor League Player of the Year
in 2018, the Hank Aaron Award winner, after • Forewent his college commitment to Mississippi
State to sign with the Braves.
hitting .294 (120-for-408) with 19 home runs
between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A. personal
OPPONENTS Gwinnett’s Player of the Year…Hit eight • He and his wife, Anna, reside in Mississippi.
• Also named by the organization as
Transactions
home runs in 28 games in August.
• Earned Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star
honors in 2017 after opening the season with • Selected by the Atlanta Braves in the Competitive
Balance A round (41st overall) of the 2015 First-
High-A Florida…Transferred to Double-A in July. Year Player Draft…Signed by Don Thomas.
• Ranked among the top 10 of Braves • On Atlanta’s injured list (right knee sprain)
MISCELLANEOUS 194 home runs (20, 3rd), RBI (74, 3rd), slugging rehabilitation assignments with Rome (A) and
prospects that season in hits (133, 2nd),
from August 5 to September 6, 2019; included
percentage (.446, T7th) and OPS (.786,
Gwinnett (AAA).
8th).
2021 ATLANTA BRAVES MEDIA GUIDE