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Braves: Austin Riley Tabbed as Potential Breakout Candidate in 2021

By Jake Mastroianni

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 18: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves at bat against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning in Game Seven of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field on October 18, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 18: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves at bat against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning in Game Seven of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field on October 18, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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A recent article from The Athletic picked Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley as a potential breakout candidate for the upcoming season. 

It’s that time of the year when writers try to make bold predictions for the upcoming season. Atlanta Braves third base Austin Riley was recently mentioned as a potential breakout candidate for the 2021 season.

On Tuesday we posted our 2021 player preview for Austin Riley and what we think he will do in the upcoming season.

The numbers that Edgar gives in his article pretty much line up with what Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required) is projecting for Riley in his ‘breakout’ season.

Most believe Riley will hit anywhere from .240-.250 with 26-32 home runs over 130 games played.

If you listen to our Tomahawk Take Podcast, I’ve said several times that I think the ceiling for Riley is a .250 hitter that goes deep 30-plus times a year.

And I think you can live with that as a Braves fan, getting that type of production from your fifth, sixth, or seventh spot in the lineup.

Certainly, I’d love to see him hit between .260-.270 with an OBP closer to .330 and a K% closer to 20-25% (which is where his K% was in 2020 when I thought he had a much better approach at the plate).

If Riley ever becomes that type of hitter, then you’re looking at a middle-of-the-order bat who could potentially be an All-Star.

But again, for more on the numbers for Riley, make sure you read Edgar’s 2021 preview on him linked above.

Whether he breaks out or not in 2021, this will certainly be the deciding year for Riley with the Braves.

They want him to take the job and will give him every opportunity to do so, but by acquiring Jake Lamb they also recognize that there’s a chance Riley doesn’t progress and a back-up plan is needed.

I was not as big on Riley when he came up as others, but I’ve really grown to like the kid and am rooting for him to figure it out at the big league level and become the permanent third baseman in Atlanta for a while.

Speaking of longtime third baseman, it can only help Riley to have Chipper Jones around more as someone who can help him make adjustments at the plate.

Next. 2021 Schedule Breakdown. dark

This is obviously a big year for Riley, and he knows that. Hopefully he can find some consistency at the plate in 2021 and be the hitter many thought he could be.

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