Austin Riley Biography

Austin Riley, born on April 2, 1997, is an American professional baseball player who has played as a third baseman in Major League Baseball. The Atlanta Braves selected him in the first round with the 41st overall pick during the 2015 MLB draft. Riley played as a pitcher and third baseman in high school, initially committing to Mississippi State University before choosing to pursue professional baseball. Riley began his professional career in 2015 with the Gulf Coast Braves, advancing through the Braves’ minor league system over subsequent seasons. After a strong start to the 2022 season, Riley signed a franchise-record ten-year contract extension worth $212 million. Since 2022, Riley has been selected for two All-Star Games, earned two All-MLB First Team honors, and won two Silver Slugger Awards. Mississippi State University had also offered Riley the opportunity to play football as a punter for the Bulldogs.