Powered by dad strength, Austin Riley’s All-Star snub is no more

Powered by undeniable dad strength, Austin Riley is your latest National League All-Star.

Austin Riley is hotter than Hansel right now, as the Atlanta Braves third baseman is heading to the Midsummer Classic.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported late on Saturday morning Riley would be added to the NL All-Star Game roster. This is the 25-year-old’s first trip to the Midsummer Classic. While initially a snub for the glorified exhibition, Riley went on an absolute tear in the following week. He now has 26 home runs and 60 runs batted in heading into the final two games of the first half.

Riley becomes the sixth player on the Braves to make the NL All-Star Game roster up to this point.

The Braves would later confirm that Riley is indeed heading to Los Angeles for the All-Star Game.

https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1548345357372780547

Riley will replace St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado on the Senior Circuit’s squad.

Austin Riley becomes sixth Atlanta Braves player to make the NL All-Star team

When you are leading the NL in total bases with 201, it is hard to keep a slugger like that off the All-Star roster. Though Riley has not had the time to build up the fan equity with voters the likes of Arenado and Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres, good for Riley finally getting his day in the sun. A new father, a World Series champion and now an All-Star. It is all coming up aces for Riley!

After winning a Silver Slugger a year ago and finishing top 10 in MVP voting, Riley has officially arrived in the National League. Braves Country has been waiting for him to ascend into his prime. Trust us, we have reached 30,000 feet on our Delta flight. We can unbuckle our seatbelts and safely move around the cabin while we enjoy the ride, one most glorious moonshot after another.

Though Atlanta is still chasing the New York Mets in the NL East race, the Braves are in far better position than they were this time a year ago. It felt like the season was over when Ronald Acuña Jr. tore his ACL on the warning track in Miami in the final series of the first half. Do not be surprised if the Braves put together a 1996-level run here, as Atlanta tries its best to repeat as world champions.

Justice has not been served as greatly in Braves Country since David went yard in Game 6, 1995.