The Atlanta Braves are looking for a bounce‑back year, and if they plan to return to the postseason, they will need rebound performances from several key players, especially those on major contracts like third basemanAustin Riley.
Riley has not lived up to the value of his 10‑year, $212 million deal recently. Last season, the 28‑year‑old posted a .260 batting average, .309 on‑base percentage, .737 OPS, 16 home runs and 54 RBIs across 102 games.
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He also underwent season‑ending core surgery in August, leaving him unavailable for a significant portion of the year. Still, there is real optimism for the right-handed slugger to return to form entering 2026.
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
(© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
First, Riley has the track record. He is a two‑time All‑Star, a two‑time Silver Slugger and a central figure in Atlanta’s 2021 World Series title run. Second, he put together an excellent spring, signaling that his abdominal issues are behind him. Over 17 games, Riley hit .357 with a .451 on‑base percentage and 1.237 OPS, adding five home runs and 13 RBIs.
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With that in mind, it was somewhat surprising to see new Braves manager Walt Weiss place Riley in the fifth spot of the batting order for Friday’s Opening Day matchup against the Kansas City Royals, slotting Ozzie Albies third.
Weiss explained the decision when speaking with reporters. He said, “I want to put Ozzie in a place to get as many right‑handed at bats as possible… that’s why I put him there” (h/t Baillie Burmaster, Atlanta News First).
While Weiss reasoning makes sense given Albies stronger production from the right side, Riley is also a right‑handed hitter and has a favorable matchup against Royals southpaw Cole Ragans. And although Riley has taken a step back from his peak seasons, Albies has regressed even more.
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Whether the move proves beneficial or not, Weiss decision is final, and Riley will begin the year in the five hole while Albies hits third to maximize his right‑handed opportunities. Both players will need to perform if Atlanta hopes to return to the MLB playoffs.
Riley is now entering his eighth season with the Braves and has spent his entire professional career with the organization since being selected in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft. His ability to return to form remains one of the biggest factors in determining how far Atlanta can go in 2026.
Related: Braves’ Walt Weiss Makes Drake Baldwin Decision Before Opening Day Game Against Royals
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source sports.yahoo.com ’
