{"id":2348744,"date":"2026-03-28T02:48:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T02:48:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2348744"},"modified":"2026-03-28T02:48:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T02:48:25","slug":"braves-walt-weiss-announces-reason-for-austin-riley-decision-before-royals-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/braves-walt-weiss-announces-reason-for-austin-riley-decision-before-royals-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Braves&#8217; Walt Weiss Announces Reason for Austin Riley Decision Before Royals Game"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/mlb\/atlanta-braves\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Atlanta Braves;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Atlanta Braves&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Atlanta Braves<\/a> are looking for a bounce\u2011back 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 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/mlb\/10-greatest-third-basemen-major-league-baseball-history\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:third baseman;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;third baseman&quot;}\" class=\"link \">third baseman<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/tag\/austin-riley\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Austin Riley;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Austin Riley&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Austin Riley<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Riley has not lived up to the value of his 10\u2011year, $212 million deal recently. Last season, the 28\u2011year\u2011old posted a .260 batting average, .309 on\u2011base percentage, .737 OPS, 16 home runs and 54 RBIs across 102 games.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>He also underwent season\u2011ending 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.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"content-figure\">\n<div class=\"content-image\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"lightbox-btn\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"lightbox-expand\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Image Lightbox\" class=\"lightbox-overlay\" aria-modal=\"true\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"fig-caption\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<p>Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) \u00a9 Jerome Miron-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"caption-credit\"> (\u00a9 Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>First, Riley has the track record. He is a two\u2011time All\u2011Star, a two\u2011time Silver Slugger and a central figure in Atlanta\u2019s 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\u2011base percentage and 1.237 OPS, adding five home runs and 13 RBIs.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s Opening Day matchup against the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/mlb\/kansas-city-royals\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Kansas City Royals;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Kansas City Royals&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Kansas City Royals<\/a>, slotting Ozzie Albies third.<\/p>\n<p>Weiss explained the decision when speaking with reporters. He said, \u201cI want to put Ozzie in a place to get as many right\u2011handed at bats as possible\u2026 that\u2019s why I put him there\u201d (h\/t Baillie Burmaster, Atlanta News First).<\/p>\n<section class=\"consent\"\/>\n<p>While Weiss reasoning makes sense given Albies stronger production from the right side, Riley is also a right\u2011handed 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.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>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\u2011handed opportunities. Both players will need to perform if Atlanta hopes to return to the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/mlb\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:MLB;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;MLB&quot;}\" class=\"link \">MLB<\/a> playoffs.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/articles\/braves-walt-weiss-makes-drake-220100921.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Related: Braves\u2019 Walt Weiss Makes Drake Baldwin Decision Before Opening Day Game Against Royals;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Related&quot;}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">Related: Braves\u2019 Walt Weiss Makes Drake Baldwin Decision Before Opening Day Game Against Royals<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><i>This story was originally published by <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/mlb\/atlanta-braves\/braves-walt-weiss-announces-reason-for-austin-riley-decision-before-royals-game\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Athlon Sports;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Athlon Sports&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Athlon Sports<\/a> on Mar 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/mlb\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:MLB;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;MLB&quot;}\" class=\"link \">MLB<\/a> section. Add Athlon Sports as a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=athlonsports.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Preferred Source by clicking here.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Preferred Source by clicking here.&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source sports.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Atlanta Braves are looking for a bounce\u2011back 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\u2011year, $212 million deal recently. Last season, the 28\u2011year\u2011old [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2348745,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[314469,344503,363064,455686,455687,311239,43627,455688,455685],"class_list":["post-2348744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-royalty","tag-atlanta","tag-atlanta-braves","tag-austin-riley","tag-baillie-burmaster","tag-base-percentage","tag-cole-ragans","tag-kansas-city-royals","tag-ozzie-albies","tag-walt-weiss"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Braves-Walt-Weiss-Announces-Reason-for-Austin-Riley-Decision-Before.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2348744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2348744"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2348744\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2348746,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2348744\/revisions\/2348746"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2348745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2348744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2348744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2348744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}