Austin Riley takes advantage of clean slate, delivers major postseason moment
Can one swing turn around the perception of a season?
Austin Riley, the Atlanta Braves third baseman, recently hit a three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the Wildcard round of the 2026 MLB Playoffs. This moment was significant as it marked a turnaround for Riley, whose season had been plagued by a decline in performance. Riley had struggled with diminished power and a career-worst average of .219, despite consistent top-10 NL MVP finishes from 2021-23.
Contracted to a $212 million deal, Riley had hit in the sixth, seventh, and eighth positions in the batting order, but not fourth. His Statcast profile was far from ideal. However, Riley's hit in the eighth inning of Tuesday's Game 1 NL wild-card series win changed everything. Riley's timely performance provided a fresh start for the Braves and fans, demonstrating his resilience and dedication to the team despite the season's challenges.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
