This time yesterday 3B Austin Riley was just a ball player that is in talks for winning the 2022 MVP. Last night the team was off, and coming into today’s game, Riley is hitting .301 with 29 homeruns and 68 RBI’s in 368 at-bats. He has helped his team, who won the 2021 World Series to 21 games over .500 and a 62-41 record as the team sits 3.5 games back of the New York Mets in the NL East Standings. By the way, the Mets are for real this year. Yesterday, General Manager Alex Anthopoulos rewarded Riley with a 10-year contract extension worth $212 million with an option year in 2033. When Riley was coming up through the minors, he was listed as the future at third after Chipper Jones retired. It’s hard to believe that just last year at the beginning of the season the Braves were platooning Riley and Johan Camargo. The Braves chose wisely, and Camargo currently plays as a utility player for the Philadelphia Phillies.
IN OTHER NEWS
The baseball trade deadline is tonight at 6pm. The Braves so far traded back with the Washington Nationals to get back utility player from last year Ehire Adrianza. The Braves traded to the Nationals minor leaguer OF Trey Harris. The trades kept on coming as the Braves sent another minor leaguer, LHP Kris Anglin to the Detroit Tigers for OF Robbie Grossman. This helps since the season ending hand injury that will sideline OF Adam Duvall.
The next trade stings, but it had to be done. Closer, and Atlanta native Will Smith, was traded to the Houston Astros for RHP Jake Odorizzi. Smith was lights out for the Braves last year in relief pitching 11 scoreless innings and was the pitcher of record when the final out was recorded for the championship. But this year he hasn’t been consistent, and always gets in trouble with baserunners when pitching. He has compiled a 4.38 ERA and given up 18 earned runs in 41 games so far.
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