Atlanta Braves: Austin Riley Hits Jaw-dropping Home Run Against Mets
If you turned the Atlanta Braves game off early because it was a blow out you may have missed one of the farthest home runs you’ll see hit in 2020.
We all know Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley has light-tower power. Well, he quite literally showed that on Sunday night against the New York Mets.
In the top of the sixth inning with the Atlanta Braves already crushing the Mets, Riley got a hanging slider and didn’t miss it.
This is one of those times when you see the ball, your eyes light up, and then you recognize the hitter sees it, and then he connects with the center of the barrel.
As soon as Riley swung I jumped out of my seat and just watched in awe to see where it was going to land — or if it was going to land.
They measured the home run at 458 feet, but I have a hard time believing that ball wouldn’t have traveled more than 500 feet had the awning of the third deck at Citi Field not gotten in the way.
I’ve set up in those bleachers at Citi Field and can tell you from first-hand experience it’s a loooong way up there.
The longest home run hit during the 2019 season went 505 feet off the bat of Nomar Mazara. I’m not sure where this Riley home run ends up on the list of 2020 home runs, but I have a hard time believing you’ll see one more beautiful.
It’s certainly great to see the third baseman get off to a good start for the Atlanta Braves this year.
And after hitting that tape-measure shot, he made a great leaping catch on a line drive in the bottom half of the inning to show he can do it with the glove as well.
Riley has looked much more confident at the plate already this year even if the results haven’t been there at times.
You know hitting that hanging slider had to feel really good for him and hopefully it leads to a lot more longballs in 2020.