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Atlanta Braves: How Austin Riley can impact 2018 and beyond

By Jason Evans

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Austin Riley (83) of the Braves hustles down to first base during the spring training game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves on February 28, 2018, at Champion Stadium in Lake Buena Vista, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Austin Riley (83) of the Braves hustles down to first base during the spring training game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves on February 28, 2018, at Champion Stadium in Lake Buena Vista, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Could the Atlanta Braves bring up another talented offensive prospect in third baseman Austin Riley?

The Atlanta Braves find themselves at the top of a very crowded National League East. Two games separate first from fourth. They’ve gotten a ton of production from their young core as Ozzie Albies has flourished in first full season in the bigs and they’ve already promoted Ronald Acuna Jr. There could be another big-time bat on the way in a position that they could use some help with.

The third base free agent market after this season is loaded. If Manny Machado is willing to move back to third, he becomes the top of the market. Former MVP Josh Donaldson will also hit the free agent market.

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With the Atlanta Braves having a ton of money coming off the books thanks to the Matt Kemp trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, they could dip their toe into the free agent market for many a big fish. Third base may not be a place where they look to spend though.

2015 first round pick Austin Riley is moving on up to AAA for the Atlanta Braves. MLB Pipeline’s sixth-ranked third base prospect and 93rd overall was absolutely raking in AA. He was hitting .333 with an OPS of 1.071.

The Atlanta Braves brought up Jose Bautista from the minors and are using him at third along with Johan Camargo, but the 21-year-old is the future at the position. If he continues to hit like this, Riley could find himself in Atlanta before long.

I talked in this space last week how it’s possible that the Atlanta Braves have arrived, maybe a little early. One of the things that teams that are in contention do is try to add to their core down the stretch.

Next: A.J. Pollock a Yankees free agent target?

The Atlanta Braves are in a position where if they need a bat and Riley is playing well they can just call him up. If they need an arm or two for the bullpen, they’ve got plenty of those as well.

The first wave of Atlanta Braves prospects has arrived in Albies and Acuna. Austin Riley represents part two of that wave and that wave me coming very fast, and that impact could be not only for 2018 but for beyond.

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