Atlanta is hoping to end a three-year rebuild at some point in the 2018 or 2019 season after years of compiling high-level prospects. Turning the corner starts at the hot corner.
Since the retirement of Hall of Famer Chipper Jones after the 2012 season, third base has been a revolving door for the Atlanta Braves’ organization. In recent years, a candidate is finally emerging, and the team is withholding the pursuit of external third base options in the hope that the No. 8 prospect in the organization can prove to be the answer: Austin Riley.
Riley, still just 20 years old, was Atlanta’s third pick in the 2015 MLB Draft. The No. 41 draft pick was acquired by the Braves in the Craig Kimbrel trade with San Diego a couple of months prior. High expectations for the power-slugging third baseman have been set ever since.
At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, the youngster tallied back-to-back 20 home run seasons the last two years. Ending 2017 at Double-A Mississippi, he played 48 games there. The question for Riley is whether or not these power numbers will be maintained as he climbs the system, seeing more quality pitching each step of the way.
The strength and size of the prospect have been on full display at times this Spring, tallying two mammoth long balls, one to right field and one to left. Despite going just 4-for-19 with eight strikeouts, Atlanta can live with the swing-and-miss possibility if the run production is there. Driving in runs is highly needed at the third base position and that’s where the Braves haven’t succeeded lately – starting with Chris Johnson.
Forgettable Fill-ins
Johnson was part of the Justin Upton deal before the 2013 campaign and proved to be quite the steal… for that season. Hitting .321 and competing for a batting title that year, Atlanta gave him a three-year, $23 million extension. Despite driving in just 68 runs and 12 homers, they felt they found their guy. However, after getting his money, the journeyman hit just .263 with 10 homers the following year. After 56 games in 2015, he was traded to Cleveland in the exchange of awful salaries with Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn.
Opening Day starters after Johnson include Alberto Callaspo and Adonis Garcia; which pretty much tells the story. For this season, possibilities for the starting job include Rio Ruiz, Johan Camargo, and recently acquired Ryan Schimpf. Ruiz, despite his young age of 23, has not proven to be a viable option moving forward due to his constant problems at the plate both last year and this Spring.
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Camargo, however, had a solid rookie campaign but is looked at by most as a utility player long-term. Losing top-prospect Kevin Maitan (despite being a shortstop) to international signing infractions doesn’t give Atlanta many options within the farm system either, as he signed with the Los Angeles Angels this off-season.
As for Schimpf… he went 0 for 3 with 3 punchouts in his first appearance in a Braves’ uniform today. The team will have 3 weeks to figure out if there is anything they can use in the former Ray and Padre.
On the trade market over the last couple of years, the Braves have not been aggressive towards a short-term or long-term option, settling for players to bridge the gap to Riley.
We don’t know what Riley will become yet, but Atlanta needs him to live up to his potential, particularly at the plate. If he can be a consistent power presence in the middle of the order joining Freddie Freeman and potentially Ronald Acuna Jr., it could lengthen the lineup and offer protection for years to come.
Next: Braves' pitching battles
Riley isn’t the highest rated prospect in the organization right now, but he could prove to be one of the most important ones if the Braves want stability at the position that needs it most.