Atlanta Bravesthird basemanAustin Riley has not figured it out in 2026. After back-to-back injury-riddled seasons, Riley's main goal entering this year was to stay healthy and productive.
While he has stayed healthy, appearing in all 92 games for the Braves, he is in the midst of a career-worst season. The 29-year-old former All-Star and Silver Slugger has posted just a .207 batting average, .284 on-base percentage, .617 OPS, nine home runs and 41 RBIs.
His production has not fallen off this much since his rookie season back in 2019. For a Braves team entering Friday in a tight division race in the National League East, with both the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins just three games behind for first place, they cannot afford for Riley to keep struggling.
Despite his struggles, Riley still remains one of the faces of the franchise, even as Braves fans grow increasingly frustrated with his performance on the field. He holds the richest contract in Braves history, having signed a 10-year, $212 million extension back in August 2022.
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Ahead of Friday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Riley revealed his latest off-field move on social media. Riley has been a brand ambassador and partner for clothing brand UNIE over the past year, frequently helping promote the brand's products to his supporters.
On Friday, he announced his own long-awaited merch collection was finally available, one that he designed and crafted himself. "My signature @unieinc x @realtreeoutdoors collection just dropped, go check out these 4 beautiful garments inspired by my love for ball, the outdoors and my team. ⚾️," Riley wrote on Instagram.
The post featured Riley wearing all four pieces of clothing and highlighted how the collection was inspired not just by his love for baseball but also for the outdoors.
As Riley continues to build his brand off the field, the hope for Braves fans is that he can find that same momentum on it and rediscover the player who was once one of the most feared hitters in the National League.
