Austin Riley 2025 Fantasy Baseball Outlook: Another 30-Homer Season On The Horizon For Reliable Producer
Austin Riley had been a model of consistency from 2021 through 2023, putting up strikingly similar stats across those three seasons while averaging 159 games played. Last season, the 2x All-Star started off slow, hitting just .220 with an almost unfathomable three home runs through June 13 (229 PA), but from June 14 through August 18, he hit .292 with 16 homers (240 PA). The 2x Silver Slugger Award winner's season ended prematurely after just 110 games when his hand was fractured after being hit by a pitch. Despite the slow start, Riley was still on pace for a 30-plus home run season on the back of a 14.9% barrel rate, which was actually 1% higher than the prior season. His hard-hit rate and average exit velocity were both 96th percentile, while his Contact% was identical to 2023 (74.3%). With no indications of a drop-off in skillset and expected to be fully healthy for spring training, the Mississippi native's outlook for 2025 makes him a top option at 3B once again. The 27-year-old currently ranks as the No. 5 third baseman at RotoBaller and 28th overall. With his NFBC ADP of 31, he appears to be a slight value right now.
Atlanta Braves third baseman
Austin Riley Homers Twice, Plates Five Monday
Austin Riley continued to get things going offensively in Monday's 8-4 win over the Blue Jays. Riley went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a three-run HR. The 28-year-old crushed a third-inning Easton Lucas fastball over the center-field wall to score two and obliterated a fifth-inning Lucas slider deep into the center-field seats to score three. After collecting just two hits in March, Riley has looked like his old self and is now slashing .288/.329/.530 with four HR and 11 RBI in 70 plate appearances. Hopefully, he can help drive a turnaround for a Braves' lineup that is still struggling overall.
Source: MLB.com
Atlanta Braves third baseman Source: MLB.com
Austin Riley Hitting Fifth On Friday
Austin Riley has been dropped down to fifth in the batting order for Friday's series opener at Truist Park against the division-rival Miami Marlins and right-hander Max Meyer. Riley has hit either second or third for the first seven games of the season, but the Braves are going to change things up as they search for their first win of 2025. The 28-year-old right-handed slugger isn't the only one slumping to begin the year in Atlanta's lineup, but he has gone 3-for-27 with a home run, one RBI, two runs scored, two walks and 11 strikeouts in 29 plate appearances. Second baseman Ozzie Albies will hit second in the lineup. The drop in the order will make Riley less attractive for DFS purposes, although he has hit .400 with a solo home run in a small sample size of five career at-bats against Meyer.
Source: MLB.com
Atlanta Braves third baseman Source: MLB.com
Austin Riley Doubles In Return To Lineup On Saturday
Austin Riley (hand) returned to the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins and went 1-for-3 in the contest with a double while playing third base and batting in the two-hole. Riley was hit by a pitch on his right hand on Friday but was able to return to action a day later. The 27-year-old right-handed slugger is now hitting a cool .310 with an .892 OPS, a homer, three doubles and two runs scored in 12 spring training games. Riley actually suffered a season-ending fractured right hand in mid-August of last year and finished with 19 home runs, 56 RBI and 63 runs scored in just 110 games in 2024 as a result. The two-time All-Star is completely healthy now, though, and should be considered a top-five fantasy third baseman on a strong team after hitting 30-plus home runs in each season from 2021-23.
Source: MLB.com
Atlanta Braves third baseman Source: MLB.com
Austin Riley Hit By Pitch On Friday, X-Rays Come Back Negative
Austin Riley (forearm, wrist) left Friday's Grapefruit League game against the division-rival Washington Nationals after he was hit by a pitch in the right forearm/wrist area. Riley passed initial strength tests, and X-rays came back negative for any broken bones, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Justin Toscano. The 27-year-old will now go for a CT scan, with the Braves not saying anything until they have the full update. While it appears Riley avoided a significant injury, he's not out of the woods just yet. We will continue to monitor the situation, but expect him to miss at least a few days in camp. If the CT scan doesn't show anything serious, Riley should be ready for Opening Day in late March. There is more concern here since Riley dealt with a fractured hand in 2024, which wasn't discovered until he had a CT scan. Stay tuned. UPDATE: Riley is considered day-to-day and will not have to return to Atlanta for further testing.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
Atlanta Braves third baseman Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
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