Third baseman Austin Riley has been one of the best hitters on the Atlanta Braves for the last two seasons. He’s hit .302/.364/.560 with 62 home runs over the last two years. On Monday, he got rewarded financially for his hitting prowess.
The Braves announced on Monday that Riley had signed a 10-year deal worth $212 million. The deal will run through 2032 and has a $20 million club option for the 2023 season.
The Atlanta #Braves today signed 3B Austin Riley to a 10-year contract worth $212 million: pic.twitter.com/TdPVtpYnL5
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 1, 2022
While activity around the trade deadline is getting most of the attention around the MLB world, Riley’s massive extension also drew a big reaction.
Well deserved. Riley is a centerpiece for the Braves over the next decade. https://t.co/d9cgGVu3M3
— Gabe Burns (@GabeBurnsAJC) August 1, 2022
Austin Riley has parlayed his ascension to an MVP candidate into a long-term contract extension with the #Braves. This the largest contract in franchise history. https://t.co/G8RmwZiwyn
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) August 1, 2022
Austin Riley's 61 extra-base hits are the 2nd-most by a Braves player before August in a season, trailing only Hank Aaron's 68 in 1959.
Riley's 26 extra-base hits in July passed Hank Aaron (25) for the most XBH in a single month in Braves history. https://t.co/chb1NXq9d5
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 1, 2022
CONGRATS: Could not have happened to a more humble, harder working or better person than Austin Riley… Now go out and win the #MVPAward👇 https://t.co/j7TZaQtCl1
— Paul Byrd (@PaulByrd36) August 1, 2022
Austin Riley agreed to a 10-year, $212 million extension.
Alex Anthopoulos saw that month of July and gave him a BAG
— jxke. 🧸 (@cantguardjake) August 1, 2022
September was indeed an incredible month for Riley. He hit a staggering .423/.460/.885 with 11 home runs. He was having a decent season to that point, hitting .257/.326/.503 with 18 home runs. Coming out of August, though, Riley had a slash line of .301/.360/.604 for the season with 29 home runs this year. As the numbers would suggest, he’s a legitimate MVP candidate in the National League.
What’s even better for the Braves and their fans is that Riley is only 25. For the most part, power hitters tend to peak in their late-20s and early-30s. So, as good as Riley has been so far, the best may be yet to come. Also, as power tends to be one of the last skills to leave players, the forecast is good for him to be a valuable hitter throughout the contract.
