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Atlanta Braves: It’s time to fall in love with Austin Riley again

By Jake Mastroianni

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 14: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates scoring on a double by Dansby Swanson #7 (not pictured) in the ninth inning during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 14, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 14: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates scoring on a double by Dansby Swanson #7 (not pictured) in the ninth inning during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 14, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Austin  Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Austin  Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

Not long ago many thought Austin Riley was the future at third base for the Atlanta Braves, and it’s time to start thinking that again.

It’s interesting how quickly one’s opinion can change on a baseball player. Last offseason the Atlanta Braves were unwilling to move prospect Austin Riley in potential trades — including one to possibly land J.T. Realmuto.

After a roaring start to the 2019 season in Triple-A and for over a month in the big leagues, Braves fans — and really everyone around baseball — was dreaming about Riley becoming a superstar in the lineup for years to come.

But again, feelings change quickly in baseball. And after one really terrible month in the big leagues almost everyone is ready to cast him off.

Well, I’m here to tell you that you better start learning to love him again, because there is a good chance he’s still the future third baseman for the Atlanta Braves.

I’ll be the first to admit that I was never that high on Riley as a prospect and I would have moved him in a heartbeat for Realmuto if that was what the Miami Marlins wanted.

And I had to eat crow when the Braves called him up and set the baseball world on fire.

Now I feel like I’m having to defend the 22-year-old (will be 23 in April) who still has less than 300 at-bats in the big leagues.

We all know his hot start wasn’t going to be sustainable. The question is, was his second-half more realistic than the first half?

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