The Atlanta Braves are looking to return to form this year after missing the MLB playoffs last season, and if they do, a major reason will be the performance of third basemanAustin Riley, who is aiming for a bounce‑back year.
Riley underwent season‑ending core surgery last August, but he has arrived at spring training appearing fully healthy. The Braves signed him to a 10‑year, $212 million extension in 2022, and at the time the deal looked strong given the value Riley had provided.
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In the first year of the contract, he continued to produce at an elite level, adding a third straight top‑ten finish in National League MVP voting, along with two Silver Sluggers and two All‑Star selections. Since then, injuries have limited his availability and his production has dipped.
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) © Brett Davis-Imagn Images


(© Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Even so, Riley remains one of the faces of the franchise and has made a lasting impact on the community, especially after helping bring a World Series title back to Atlanta in 2021. He has continued to use his platform in meaningful ways, and on Tuesday he made another announcement that reflects that commitment.
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Riley has frequently shown his passion for golf alongside baseball, and he combined the two by revealing he will host a special charity golf tournament benefiting The Warrior Alliance, a Georgia‑based nonprofit that supports veterans, service members and their families. He shared the details in his Instagram caption.
“Braves Country! I’m excited to announce The Aflac Austin Riley Charity Golf Tournament Presented By Encore Roofing on April 27th To Benefit The Warrior Alliance on April 27th at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Can’t wait to see you all there,” the post read.
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With Riley’s event scheduled and his off‑field impact continuing to grow, this season remains a pivotal one for him on the field.
In 2025, he posted a .260 batting average, .309 on‑base percentage, .737 OPS, 16 home runs and 54 RBIs across 102 games. Those numbers were not poor, but Riley is capable of much more, and the Braves know how different their lineup looks when he is performing at his peak.
If he returns to the form he showed earlier in his career, Atlanta’s offense becomes significantly deeper and their path back to the postseason becomes far more realistic.
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Related: Ronald Acuna Jr. Makes Unexpected Change Ahead of 9th Braves Season
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.