Atlanta Braves: 3 sleeper candidates to make the roster

Austin Riley, third base

It has been documented over and over and over again just how impressive Austin Riley was when he made his debut last May for the Braves.

But once more, Riley crushed 14 home runs in 43 games, before falling off a cliff in the last three months of the season.

In a recent Q&A session with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Riley talked about reconstructing his swing and how he feels like he has made the necessary adjustments.

It’s one of those things where I will believe when I see it.

However, if he can indeed be something similar to what he was last May, then that answers the third base question.

Subsequently, it would move Camargo to the bench and likely mean Duvall, Culberson or Solarte goes to Triple-A.

While the top four of the Braves lineup is quite powerful, there are some concerns after that. Riley’s emergence would undoubtedly lengthen and strengthen the lineup, as he would likely move into the fifth spot in the order.

Finally, if Riley shows he is more than capable to handle third base, then that takes another long-term question off the table for the Braves. There were reports over the winter that they were interested in some of the third basemen available.