Atlanta Braves $212 million All-Star infielder urged to 'heat up' - MLB

Atlanta Braves $212 million All-Star infielder urged to ‘heat up’ originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

So far in 2026, everything has gone the way of the Atlanta Braves, who hold MLB’s best record with a 40-20 mark.

It’s been mostly Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, Drake Baldwin, and a mix of Mauricio Dubon/Ozzir Albies, and Ronald Acuna Jr. carrying the lineup. However, none of those players are the highest-paid Braves position player ever like Austin Riley, who is on a 10-year, $212 million contract.

There are still *102 games left to be played this season, so plenty of time for Riley to turn it around, but he’s being urged to ‘heat up’ after the slow start.

Does Austin Riley need to ‘heat up’?

In a recent article for MLB.com, Mark Bowman names Austin Riley as one Braves player who needs to ‘heat up’ this season:

“Ha-Seong Kim has struggled, but Jorge Mateo and Mauricio Dubón are capable of handling the shortstop position until decisions are made before the Trade Deadline. The greater need is to get Riley going. The third baseman has experienced slow starts before and then erupted in the summer months. A fourth career 30-homer season is possible with another similar surge.”

Austin Riley is hitting .209 this season with eight home runs, 32 RBI, and an OPS of .648 in 220 at-bats.

You be the judge, the Braves have had so much success this season, but does Austin Riley need to heat up in order for Atlanta to reach it’s ultimate goal of a World Series ring?

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Atlanta Braves $212 million All-Star infielder urged to ‘heat up’

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