Braves Briefing: Austin Riley makes MLB.com's Home Run Derby wishlist
Atlanta's Austin Riley has shown some power so far this season with his 14 home runs on the season.
He'd be a great player to make his debut in the home run derby, according to an expert over at MLB.com.
Seven different writers were asked to share a player that could make a great debut to the home run derby this season, Brian Murphy's answer was Austin Riley.
Here's what they wrote after highlighting his key stat of four 450-foot home runs.
Riley can provide what we, as fans, want most out of any Home Run Derby: gargantuan, incredible, physics-defying homers. He clubbed 21 no-doubters last season, which trailed only Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber, the HR leader in each league. Although his overall production has dropped this season, Riley has already launched four balls at least 450 feet. That’s the second-most such clouts in MLB, behind only teammate Ronald Acuña Jr., who has six. Riley’s monstrous crush jobs include both the longest and hardest-hit home runs of his career.
Even if Riley doesn’t win the Derby, his penchant for long-distance dingers could lead to a performance that ranks among the most memorable moments in the event’s history.
NL East Standings
| Team | Record | GB | Action Today |
|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta | 52-27 | - | Hosts Minnesota |
Miami | 46-34 | 6.5 | @ Boston |
Philadelphia | 41-37 | 10.5 | @ CHC |
NYM | 36-43 | 16.0 | Hosts Milwaukee |
Washington | 31-48 | 21.0 | @ Seattle |
We wrote it
Will Moon handled the coverage Tuesday night in Atlanta's 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. He touched on Bryce Elder's performance from the mound.
Bryce Elder had the ball for the Bravos, and he really did not pitch very well. Through the first four innings, he struggled to consistently locate any of his pitches, allowing four hits and issuing four walks over that span. But the one thing Bryce did well was find a way to win with his C-game. The Twins are not a good offensive team, and they certainly helped Elder out by putting together some pretty brutal ABs with runners on base (looking at you, Carlos Correa). But don't discount a young pitcher such as Elder being able to grind through innings on a night where he clearly didn't have it.
Check out all of his takeaways from the action here.
Watch highlights of Atlanta and Minnesota
How to watch the Atlanta Braves vs the Minnesota Twins
Atlanta goes for the sweep Wednesday afternoon. The Twins will send former Dodger Kenta Maeda (1-4, 6.86 ERA, 3.74 FIP) to the hill. The Braves have surprised many by announcing lefty Kolby Allard as their starter in his season debut. Allard has spent the bulk of the season on the IL with an oblique strain and will now make his first appearance for the Braves since 2018. (He's spent the last four-plus seasons with the Texas Rangers' organization.) He's made two starts for AAA Gwinnett and posted a 2.70 ERA/2.05 FIP/4.32 xFIP in 6.2 innings.
Note the early start time of 12:20 Eastern. The game broadcast, with Voice of the Braves Brandon Gaudin, is available inside Braves Country on Bally Sports South and is available on MLB.TV outside of the broadcast area. The radio call, with Ben Ingram, is available locally on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan or outside the Atlanta market on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network or MLB.com.
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