Austin Riley simply hasn’t lived up to expectations since signing the richest contract in Braves history.
Back on August 1, 2022, Riley inked a 10-year, $212 million deal at the height of his breakout season. That year, he posted a stellar 141 OPS+ with 38 homers and 39 doubles—both career highs—and finished sixth in MVP voting. It looked like Atlanta had locked down the next face of the franchise.
The following season reinforced that belief. Riley’s numbers dipped slightly but remained elite: 37 home runs, 32 doubles, a 130 OPS+, and another top-seven MVP finish. He had become a reliable force—virtually guaranteed to hit 35+ homers, 90+ RBIs, and rack up over 6 WAR per season.
But that trend stopped cold.
His 2024 season was disrupted by injury, and he posted his worst batting average, OPS+, and slugging percentage since becoming a regular starter. Some chalked it up to the team’s overall nightmare of a 2024 season—but those issues have carried into 2025. Through 56 games this year, Riley’s OPS+ sits at 116—not bad, but far below what’s expected from the franchise’s highest-paid player.
- Austin Riley
His current 1.2 bWAR puts him on pace for about half the production he delivered in his peak seasons. And what’s most concerning is how he’s performed in clutch moments. In high-leverage situations, Riley owns a .629 OPS—19% worse than league average and a staggering 38% drop from his overall OPS.
That’s not what you expect from your superstar.
To be clear, this isn’t all on Riley. General Manager Alex Anthopoulos, manager Brian Snitker, and fellow stars like Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies also share the blame for the Braves’ underwhelming start.
But the expectations are different when you’re the highest-paid player in the organization’s storied history. Riley has to lead—and he knows it.
He has to be better.
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