Braves’ $212 Million Slugger Takes Blame For Ongoing Disappointment
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 12: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during the first inning of the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 12, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThe Atlanta Braves entered the 2026 season expecting to contend once again in the National League but it surprised many, at least outside of Atlanta, that the team has surged to the top of the division standings and maintained a significant lead there for most of the season.
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The Braves are looking to retake the division crown for the first time since 2023. But the struggles for third baseman Austin Riley continue despite the team’s success.
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After establishing himself as one of baseball’s premier power hitters and signing a 10-year, $212 million extension, Riley has endured another difficult campaign while trying to recapture the form that once made him an MVP candidate.
Now, as the Braves attempt to finish the season on a positive note, Riley isn’t pointing fingers elsewhere. Speaking to reporters recently, Riley accepted full responsibility for his disappointing performance this season.
"It's 100 percent on me," Riley said, according to The Athletic’s Jesus Cano. "There's been some encouragement here of late, and hopefully we can continue to build on that and finish, finish the season strong."
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Riley has a .215 batting average with just eight home runs so far this season, though his recent play has shown signs of improvement. Still, overall, he’s been far from his All-Star form this season.
“From 2021 to 2023, Riley looked like the Braves' next star, earning a franchise-record $212 million in mid-2022,” Cano added. “He averaged 34 home runs a year, batted .286 and ranked ninth in fWAR (16.1) behind the likes of Aaron Judge, Freddie Freeman, Juan Soto and fellow third baseman Jose Ramirez.”
But the struggles at the plate have been a trend for the 28-year-old third baseman since 2024 and, after two consecutive season-ending injuries, concern levels were already pretty high on Riley.
“After producing a .653 OPS through the first 54 games of 2024, Riley hit .283 with 15 homers and a .913 OPS over his remaining 56 games that year,” Matt Bowman reported for MLB.com.
“His season ended after a pitch fractured his right hand on Aug. 18, which ended his bid for a fourth straight 30-homer season.
But the two-time All-Star’s willingness to shoulder responsibility reflects the accountability expected from one of the organization’s highest-paid stars. If the Braves hope to return to contention in 2027, rediscovering the version of Riley that ranked among baseball's elite sluggers will likely be one of their biggest priorities.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com