Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley is out for the rest of the year after undergoing season-ending surgery, the team announced Thursday. Riley, who has been out since Aug. 4, has been on the injured list twice this season due to a lower abdominal strain.
The Braves announced that Riley had "core injury surgery" on Thursday in Philadelphia. Atlanta expects him to return in 2026 for spring training.
Riley landed on the IL for the second time this year during the MLB Speedway Classic between the Braves and the Cincinnati Reds. The third baseman stretched to tag out Elly De La Cruz at home plate before leaving the game with an apparent injury.
Atlanta went on to win the game 4-2 after the contest was delayed a full day due to rain. Even with the rain, the game set a record for tickets sold.
Riley had just returned from his first stint on the IL due to a lower abdominal strain, which kept him out for two weeks before his return on July 25. The 28-year-old infielder appeared to have aggravated the injury during the Speedway Classic.
Riley played in 102 games this season, posting a .260/.309/.428 slash line in that time. He had 108 hits, 54 runs and 16 home runs in the injury-shortened season.
The Braves have slipped to 58-69 and fourth in the NL East. But things are starting to look up a bit in Atlanta. The team has won eight of its past 10 and is doing its best to reclaim some momentum as the season winds down. The Braves take on the New York Mets, who are second in the division, this weekend.
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