Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley has long been viewed as one of the franchise’s foundational pieces, but in recent weeks his attention has shifted away from the diamond. Earlier this week, Riley partnered with the Atlanta Braves Foundation to deliver holiday gifts to children at Winchester Elementary School, located near his hometown. The foundation shared the moment on Instagram.
“ABF partnered with Austin Riley to deliver holiday gifts to Winchester Elementary School yesterday! The school is located near Austin’s hometown, and the students were so excited to pick out their toys with his help 💙,” the post read.
The mission of the Atlanta Braves Foundation, according to the website, is to build community through baseball by engaging Braves Country, reaching vulnerable populations and improving equity and access in sport, health, education and well-being outcomes for children, families and communities. Riley’s involvement underscores his commitment to giving back, a role he has embraced consistently throughout his career.
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As the calendar turns toward the 2026 MLB season, however, attention inevitably shifts back to Riley’s future on the field. There are lingering question marks after another modest campaign in 2025. His season ended prematurely in August when he underwent core injury surgery to repair a sports hernia, a procedure that typically requires several months of recovery. That setback followed a broken hand in 2024 and other abdominal issues, raising uncertainty about whether these injuries have contributed to his dip in production over the past two years.
Riley’s numbers reflected that decline. He hit .260 with a .309 on-base percentage, a .737 OPS, 16 home runs and 54 RBIs across 102 games. While respectable, those totals fell short of the standard he set earlier in his career, when he routinely finished in the top 10 of National League MVP voting and collected two All-Star selections along with a pair of Silver Slugger Awards.
Despite the recent struggles, Riley remains a central figure in Atlanta’s long-term plans. In August 2022, he signed a 10-year, $212 million extension that runs through the 2032 season, with a $20 million club option for 2033. That deal reflects the organization’s belief in his ability to rebound and reestablish himself as one of the premier power hitters in the league. For Riley, 2026 represents both a chance to prove he is healthy and an opportunity to remind Braves fans why he was once considered one of the most feared bats in baseball.