Austin Riley Bio
Michael Austin Riley, known professionally as Austin Riley, is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Braves selected him in the first round, 41st overall, of the 2015 MLB draft, and he made his major league debut in 2019. He has since become one of the franchise’s cornerstone players, winning a World Series championship and earning multiple All-Star selections.
Born and raised in Mississippi, Riley developed into a top prospect through the Braves’ farm system before establishing himself as a power-hitting infielder. His combination of run production and defensive presence at third base has positioned him as a long-term building block for Atlanta.
Early Life and Background
Austin Riley was born on April 2, 1997, in Coldwater, Mississippi. He is the eldest son of Mike and Elisa Riley. His father, Mike, played college football as a punter at Mississippi State University, a detail that shaped Riley’s own early athletic path.
Riley attended DeSoto Central High School in Southaven, Mississippi, where he starred in baseball as both a shortstop and a pitcher. He also played American football during his freshman and sophomore years, serving as a quarterback. Although Riley wanted to quit football to focus on baseball, the football coach kept him on the roster as a punter, a position that mirrored his father’s role at Mississippi State. Mississippi State later offered Riley the chance to play college football as a punter as well.
By the end of high school, Riley was regarded as one of the top baseball prospects in the country and committed to play for the Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team. His performance on the diamond drew national attention and set the stage for a professional career straight out of high school.
Path to Professional Baseball
The Atlanta Braves selected Austin Riley in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft, with the 41st overall pick. Despite his commitment to Mississippi State, Riley chose to sign with the Braves for $1.6 million and forgo a college career. He made his professional debut that same year with the Gulf Coast Braves, playing 30 games before a promotion to the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League. Across 60 games in his first professional season, he batted .304 with 12 home runs.
In 2016, Riley played for the Rome Braves of the Class A South Atlantic League, where he batted .271 and continued to develop at third base. He was invited to spring training as a non-roster player in 2017 and began that season with the Florida Fire Frogs of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League. His strong performance earned him a midseason promotion to the Mississippi Braves of the Double-A Southern League. Across 129 games in 2017, Riley hit .275 with 20 home runs and 74 RBIs, and he finished the year with the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League.
Heading into 2018, Riley was ranked among the top 100 prospects in baseball. He opened the season with Mississippi and batted .333 with six home runs in 27 games, earning a promotion to the Gwinnett Stripers in May. At Gwinnett, he hit .282 with 12 home runs and 47 RBIs. He returned to Gwinnett to begin 2019 and was a consensus top 40 prospect when the Braves called him to the majors in May.
Austin Riley Career
Major League Debut (2019)
The Atlanta Braves promoted Austin Riley on May 15, 2019, prior to a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, after placing Ender Inciarte on the injured list. He made his debut that night and hit a home run off Michael Wacha in his second at bat. Riley quickly established himself as a power threat, hitting his first career grand slam on May 29 and his eighth home run on June 1, becoming the fourth player in MLB history to reach that mark in 16 or fewer games. He was the fastest player in Braves franchise history to do so. He won the National League Rookie of the Month Award for May despite playing in only 15 games. A right knee sprain sent him to the injured list in August, but he returned in September and played in 14 of Atlanta’s final 21 games. In 2019, he batted .226 with 18 home runs and 49 RBIs across 297 plate appearances while playing multiple positions defensively.
Growth Years (2020–2021)
The shortened 2020 season saw Riley bat .239 with eight home runs and 27 RBIs in 206 plate appearances, with most of his defensive work coming at third base. Atlanta lost in the National League Championship Series that year, and Riley made his postseason debut, batting .178 with one home run in 12 games.
Riley’s 2021 season was a turning point. After an early slump in which he went 8-for-44 with no extra-base hits, he worked with minor league hitting coach Mike Brumley on the mental side of his at bats, learning to lay off sliders he had been chasing. Promoted to the cleanup spot in late May, he anchored a Braves lineup that won the National League East. He finished the regular season hitting .303 with 33 home runs, 107 RBIs, and an .898 OPS, joining Eddie Mathews and Chipper Jones as the only Atlanta third basemen to hit .300 with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in a season at age 24 or younger. In the postseason, he delivered a walk-off hit in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and helped Atlanta close out the Dodgers in Game 6. The Braves went on to win the 2021 World Series, and Riley earned his first championship ring. He was one of four Braves to win a Silver Slugger Award that offseason.
Peak Years and Long-Term Deal (2022–2023)
Riley entered 2022 eligible for salary arbitration for the first time and was awarded $3.95 million. He earned his first career Player of the Week honor on July 11, was added to the All-Star Game as an injury replacement for Nolan Arenado on July 16, and set a franchise record with 26 extra-base hits in July, winning National League Player of the Month. On August 1, the Braves announced a ten-year, $212 million contract extension, the largest in team history, surpassing the value of Matt Olson’s earlier deal. He tied Hank Aaron as the fastest player in franchise history to reach 30 doubles and 30 home runs in the same season, doing so in 111 games.
In 2023, Riley earned his second consecutive All-Star selection and won his second career Silver Slugger Award. He also earned All-MLB First Team honors for the second time in three seasons.
Injury Years and Recovery (2024–2025)
Injuries limited Riley in 2024. He missed 14 games in May with a strained intercostal muscle and later suffered a right hand fracture after being hit by a pitch on August 18, ending his season. In 110 games, he hit .256 with 19 home runs and 56 RBIs. His 2025 season was also cut short by injuries, including a right abdominal strain that began in July and a lower abdominal strain sustained during the MLB Speedway Classic. He underwent core injury surgery on August 21 and was moved to the 60-day injured list on September 1. In 102 appearances, Riley batted .260 with 16 home runs and 54 RBIs.
Driving Style and Strengths
Austin Riley is known for his right-handed power and his ability to drive the ball to all fields. His work with Mike Brumley helped him refine his plate discipline and cut down on chasing off-speed pitches, transforming him into a middle-of-the-order force. Defensively, he brings a strong arm and steady hands to third base, ranking among National League leaders in assists during his peak seasons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Riley’s signature moments are his major league debut home run in 2019, his walk-off hit in Game 1 of the 2021 National League Championship Series, and his record-setting contract extension in 2022. He also tied Hank Aaron’s franchise record for the fastest player to reach 30 doubles and 30 home runs in a single season.
Austin Riley Career Wins
Austin Riley’s career has been marked by consistent run production and postseason success. His 2021 Silver Slugger Award and World Series ring stand as his most prominent individual and team accomplishments.
MLB Highlights
Riley has won one World Series championship (2021), two Silver Slugger Awards (2021 and 2023), two All-Star selections (2022 and 2023), and two All-MLB First Team honors (2021 and 2023). His 33 home runs and 107 RBIs in 2021 placed him among the National League leaders in both categories.
Minor League and Draft Honors
Riley was selected in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft and ranked among the top 100 prospects in baseball entering 2018. He was a consensus top 40 prospect at the time of his 2019 call-up to Atlanta.
Austin Riley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Austin Riley is the eldest son of Mike and Elisa Riley. His father, Mike, played as a punter at Mississippi State University. Riley’s cousin, Keegan James, played college baseball at Mississippi State and was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 25th round of the 2019 MLB draft, pitching in the minor leagues until his release in March 2024.
Personal Life
Austin Riley married his wife, Anna, in November 2018. The couple announced in October 2021 that they were expecting their first child, and their son was born in April 2022. Their second son was born in July 2024. The family has lived in Coldwater and later in Riley’s hometown of Hernando, Mississippi.
2025 Season Performance
Austin Riley’s 2025 campaign was again disrupted by injuries. A right abdominal strain kept him out from July 12 to July 25, and a lower abdominal strain during the MLB Speedway Classic sent him back to the injured list. In 102 appearances for Atlanta, he batted .260 with 16 home runs and 54 RBIs before undergoing core injury surgery on August 21 and being transferred to the 60-day injured list on September 1.
Despite the abbreviated season, Riley remained a middle-of-the-order presence when healthy, continuing to provide right-handed power and run production for the Braves. His long-term contract, signed in 2022, keeps him under team control through 2032, and the organization views him as a central figure in its competitive window.
Looking ahead, Riley’s recovery from core surgery and his ability to return to full strength will shape his outlook entering 2026. The Braves are expected to lean on his bat and defense at third base as they work to remain contenders in the National League.