Austin Riley Confirmed Out For Rest of Season For Braves

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley won’t be returning to the lineup this season, including any potential playoff games. Manager Brian Snitker confirmed on Tuesday that a recent CT scan showed Riley’s broken right hand hasn't healed enough to remove his cast. The two-time All-Star has been sidelined since August 18, when he was struck by a 97 mph fastball from Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jack Kochanowicz.

"It just wasn't healing enough to think that he could come back this year," Snitker explained. "He's still in a cast, so realistically, it was going to be pretty tough for him. We'd have to go pretty deep in the playoffs. It is not where the doctors wanted it to be." The Braves skipper also mentioned that Riley is expected to be fully healthy again in time for spring training. For now, it’s clear that the team will have to push forward without one of their most dangerous hitters.

Riley’s injury comes at a difficult time for Atlanta, who are currently fighting for a postseason spot. Heading into Tuesday’s game against the New York Mets, the Braves (85-71) are 1.5 games behind in the race for the final National League Wild Card. Every game counts, and Riley’s absence is undoubtedly a tough blow. Despite some struggles earlier in the season, Austin Riley was a crucial part of the Braves' lineup, batting .256 with 19 home runs and 56 RBIs in 110 games.

Over his six-year career with Atlanta, Riley has been a consistent power threat. He's accumulated 153 home runs and 429 RBIs while maintaining a solid .272 average. He’s also become a key figure in the Braves’ recent success, earning two All-Star selections and cementing himself as one of the cornerstones of the franchise. Losing his bat and glove for the final stretch of the season and beyond is certainly not what the Braves envisioned, especially considering how close they are to securing a postseason spot.

Photo byBally Sports South

In Riley’s place, third baseman Gio Urshela has stepped up since being signed by the Braves after he was waived by the Detroit Tigers on the same day Austin Riley went down. Urshela has been a pretty good replacement for Atlanta, hitting .270 with three home runs over 30 games, providing some stability at the hot corner during Riley’s absence. However, with the stakes rising as the playoff race intensifies, Urshela and the rest of the Braves will need to continue stepping up to fill the void left by Riley.

With a tight race for the Wild Card and only a handful of games left, the Braves find themselves in a tough spot. They’ll need to claw their way into the playoffs without one of their star players. Still, Atlanta has proven time and again that they can rally when the chips are down, and with a talented roster, they aren’t out of it yet.

The next few games will be crucial for determining whether they can keep their playoff hopes alive and make a run without Riley anchoring the lineup. We will have to wait until next season to see Austin Riley back out there on the corner.