NORTH PORT, Fla. — Austin Riley stands as simply considered one of six Braves gamers ever to supply three consecutive 30-homer seasons. By the top of this yr, he’d wish to be considered one of simply three third basemen in franchise historical past to win a Gold Glove Award.
“That’s what I’m going for,” Riley stated. “I assumed I did a reasonably good job final yr. That’s the objective this yr.”
Riley would possibly wish to flip to his supervisor Brian Snitker to function a marketing campaign supervisor. Snitker has given some colourful responses when requested for his ideas on how some defensive metrics considered his third baseman prior to now.
“You possibly can take these defensive metrics and put it you understand the place,” Snitker stated. “I choose protection with my eyes, not some metrics. It blows me away yearly after I take a look at the Gold Glove factor and I see all the numbers they’ve. You already know the fellows who can defend, and Austin Riley is likely one of the greatest defensive third basemen in our recreation.”
Nonetheless, in the event you take a look at Baseball Savant’s metrics, Riley was tied for twenty third amongst all certified third basemen with 0 Outs Above Common final yr. This truly was an indication of progress. He was tied for thirtieth in 2022 with -6 OAA and thirtieth in ‘21 with -3 OAA.
FanGraphs’ metrics had been a lot kinder. Riley ranked fourth amongst certified third basemen with 9 Defensive Runs Saved final yr. He was fifth in 2022 with 6 DRS and first in ‘21 with 13 DRS.
As for the Snitker eye check, it led the veteran supervisor to firmly imagine Riley already ought to have gained his first Gold Glove Award.
“I hate that he was ignored final yr,” Snitker stated. “That’s a sin that he didn’t win a Gold Glove.”
Riley can at the least take satisfaction in the truth that he joined the Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes and the Rockies’ Ryan McMahon because the Nationwide League’s three Gold Glove finalists final yr. Hayes was named the winner.
Regardless of what’s deciphered from the differing metrics, Riley can confidently say he has change into a greater defensive participant over the previous couple years. He dropped a couple of kilos this offseason with the hope to enhance his glove-side vary.
“I believe the [defensive improvement] is what I’ve taken essentially the most satisfaction in as a result of I used to be so unhealthy,” Riley stated. “I’ve come a good distance. I believe it’s simply going to proceed to get extra constant.”
Riley may be a reasonably powerful self-evaluator in relation to his defensive improvement. He actually endured inevitable rising pains throughout his Minor League days. However Snitker remembers Chipper Jones all the time offering encouraging stories when requested about Riley’s glove.
“Chipper was all the time very complimentary as a result of he went round and noticed him loads within the Minors,” Snitker stated. “He was all the time actually excessive on him as a defensive third baseman.”
Clete Boyer (1969) and Terry Pendleton (‘92) are the one Braves third basemen to win a Gold Glove Award. Riley would possibly ultimately add to this record.
No matter whether or not Riley ever wins the defensive honor, he appears destined to spend the following decade being in comparison with Jones and Eddie Mathews, the Braves’ two Corridor of Fame third basemen. He already stands with them as half of the franchise’s six gamers who’ve had three consecutive 30-homer seasons. The others are Hank Aaron, Dale Murphy and Andruw Jones.
Riley wasted little time powering up for 2024, hitting his first residence run of the spring in Sunday’s 5-4 loss to the Pink Sox at CoolToday Park.
Riley has completed among the many prime seven in NL MVP balloting every of the previous three seasons, and he has earned an All-Star choice the previous two seasons. His major objective is to reintroduce himself to the fun he felt in 2021, when he and his Braves teammates gained the World Collection.
But when he may be grasping, he’d additionally like a Gold Glove.
“I do know there’s much more coming,” Riley stated. “You simply attempt to get higher with every thing yearly. I don’t assume there’s a secret system. It’s about persevering with to work and be taught myself. Hopefully, we are able to proceed to climb up that ladder.”