The Atlanta Braves’ offense has been lifeless for much of the season. Aside from Marcell Ozuna, there hasn’t been a single player that has consistently dominated. Without a great pitching staff and the Big Bear, Atlanta would not be more than 10 games above.500 after 60 games. Some gamers do not appear to be nearing the end of their journey. For example, no one should expect Orlando Arcia to suddenly become the All-Star he was last season. However, there is still plenty of potential that should see a spike. Ozzie Albies is capable of going on a tear, and we know how hot Matt Olson can be.
The slugging first baseman led MLB in home runs last season and has more than anyone other than Aaron Judge since 2018. Austin Riley, more than any other Braves player, appears to be primed for positive regression. According to The Athletic’s Eno Sarris, the two-time All-Star slugged more than.600 in the second half of last season,.885 in July 2022, and nearly.600 in the second half the year before that, Riley is one of the struggling hitters who are doing the right things.
Sometimes I believe he gets stuck in the middle. He even stated this to me clearly as a prospect at the Arizona Fall League one year.According to Alex Bregman, pull percentage is a reliable indicator of contact point and timing. Riley’s pull rate has decreased slightly, but this coincides with a decrease in fastball production. He slugged.482 on the four-seamer last year, but it’s down to.188 this season. However, looking at the track record of a 27-year-old with exceptional bat speed, you can readily conclude that better is on the way – it becomes more difficult to predict as you go down the list above.
Except for this season, Austin Riley has 108 home runs, a.525 slugging percentage, and a 134 OPS+ (34% higher than the league average). Riley currently has an OPS+ of 87, which is 13% lower than the league average. Austin Riley typically warms up when the weather does. Nobody should believe that a 47-game sample size reflects who he is as a player, especially after three seasons of top offense. Riley and the Braves may expect clear skies soon.