NORTH PORT, Fla. — Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley had to leave a Grapefruit League game after being hit on the hand by a pitch, the same hand he fractured the previous season.
The incident took place during the opening inning of the Braves’ matchup against the Washington Nationals. Riley immediately showed signs of distress and clutched his right hand before making his way towards first base.
The decision to remove Riley from the game was made when the Braves took the field in the top of the second inning. This move was described by the Braves as a precautionary measure. Subsequent reports indicated that X-rays came back negative, which is certainly reassuring news for the team and fans.
Riley, who will soon celebrate his 28th birthday on April 2, concluded last season with a .256 batting average, a .322 on-base percentage, and recorded 19 home runs along with 56 RBIs. His previous season was unfortunately cut short after a pitch traveling at 97 mph from Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jack Kochanowicz struck his right hand, resulting in a fracture confirmed by an MRI.
Riley has proven to be an integral player for the Braves, finishing in the top ten of MVP votings over the past three seasons. With at least 33 home runs in each of those years, his contributions have been significant and have solidified his reputation as a consistent performer in the league.
