The Atlanta Braves announced Monday that third baseman Austin Riley will miss ‘six to eight weeks’ (at least the rest of the regular season) after undergoing an MRI that revealed a fractured right hand on Monday.  Riley was struck on the wrist by a 97 mph fastball from Los Angeles Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz in the first inning of their 3-1 victory on Sunday.

The Braves’ posted on social media: “Austin Riley today underwent an MRI that revealed a right hand fracture. He is expected to miss approximately six to eight weeks.Additionally, the club today returned RHP Reynaldo López from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list, and optioned RHP Jimmy Herget to Triple-A Gwinnett.”

Riley has 19 homers and 56 RBIs in 110 games this year.  His absence will take him out through the end of the regular season, and likely into the playoffs should the Braves advance. This is the second significant setback for Riley this season; he was out for two weeks in May with a strained muscle near his rib cage.  The third baseman hit 37 homers last season, and has 153 homers for Atlanta since his MLB debut in 2019.

Riley is just the latest member of the Braves to deal with an extended injury absence, joining Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Stride, as well as Ozzie Albies, who suffered a left wrist fracture on July 21.

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