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Atlanta Braves: Austin Riley Could Be Perfect Solution for Universal DH in 2019

By Jake Mastroianni

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: The bats of J.P. Crawford #2 of the Philadelphia Phillies in the dugout prior to the game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on April 27, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: The bats of J.P. Crawford #2 of the Philadelphia Phillies in the dugout prior to the game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on April 27, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The MLB Players Association (MLBPA) are once again suggesting that a universal DH be put in place. The Atlanta Braves could benefit from this with Austin Riley.

In the unlikely event that Major League Baseball approves the request of the MLBPA and institutes a universal DH for the 2019 season, it could solve a little problem for the Atlanta Braves.

Had Austin Riley not gotten hurt in the middle of the 2018 season, it’s possible he makes his major league debut last year.

The soon-to-be 22-year-old is considered the top prospect in the Braves organization by Baseball America. Last year he finished the season at Triple-A where he hit .282 in 291 at-bats with 12 home runs and a .346 on-base percentage.

Already the Braves are looking to have the third baseman try things in the outfield in order to give him a better chance of cracking the big league roster this season.

If he comes into Spring Training and does what he his capable, it will be hard for the Atlanta Braves to hold him back. Even with Nick Markakis signed for the outfield, if Riley has an outstanding Spring Training and takes to the outfield well, I would think the organization would have a hard time justifying sending him to Triple-A.

But, if there were a universal DH in baseball this season and there is no Realmuto in Atlanta to shift Brian McCann to DH, the Atlanta Braves could have a very easy solution to all of this.

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They could simply let Riley start the season with the major league team and use him as their primary DH. Assuming he can make the adjustment to the big leagues and be as productive as he was in the minors, that could give the team another powerful bat in the lineup.

The DH spot would also allow the Braves to give the oft-injured Josh Donaldson some days off on the infield while keeping him in the lineup. And Riley could fill in at third.

The same could be said for Markakis in the outfield.

But before any Braves fans get too excited, I think the changes of this rule being put into place this season are zero.

It honestly wouldn’t be fair to National League teams who haven’t been preparing their roster for a DH.

Next. Would the Atlanta Braves be ready for a 2019 Designated Hitter rule?. dark

And while I’ve never been a proponent of having a universal DH, I know it’s coming sooner or later. If somehow it were to happen for the 2019 season, I think it could work in the Braves favor.

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