Fansided

Ranking each piece of Atlanta Braves young core after Harris extension

By Jake Oliver

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves looks on before a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 04, 2022 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Braves 6-4. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves looks on before a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 04, 2022 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Braves 6-4. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 6: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during the first inning against the New York Mets in the first game of a doubleheader at Citi Field on August 6, 2022 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

2. Austin Riley, Third Baseman

Austin Riley is having a career year in 2022 where he’s contending for the NL MVP. He has played nearly every day in 117 games and was a first-time All-Star this year. He won a Silver Slugger award in 2021.

His contract runs through 2032 with the option years included for $212 million. The length of the deal nearly put him at No.1 but his lack of long-term success compared to Acuna put him 2nd. Their defense is pretty even as Riley provides good defense at the hot corner. So far, Riley has 4.7 WAR in 2022.

Riley has hit 30 home runs, 74 RBI, two triples, and 34 doubles so far this year with a great .288/.354/.566/.920 and 149 OPS+. It’s likely he finishes as the runner-up to Paul Goldschmidt in the MVP race.

Regardless, he’s only 25 and starting to reach his prime. This is his second year in a row with at least 30 doubles, 30 home runs, and 260 total bases. Fans can’t wait to see how much better he gets, which is also a scary proposition for the rest of the NL East and baseball.

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