Braves prefer to wait on Riley

Power-hitting prospect mitigates need at third base.

PEORIA, aren’t likely ARIZ. — to The pursue Braves a big-ticket free-agent third baseman this winter, in part because they don’t want to block prospect Austin Riley by signing a veteran to a multi-year deal that might overlap the anticipated arrival of the young slugger.

The other reason could be that none of the avail- able free agents is enticing enough for the Braves to get into a bidding war. Not when they are feeling better all the time about Riley’s potential. only gle-A, mance The 48 20-year-old but in games Double-A Riley’s above has coupled perfor- played Sinwith ing in his the impressive ongoing Arizona showFall League has some in the Braves organization thinking the former Mississippi high school star could be ready for the big leagues in a couple of years, perhaps sooner.

“I try not to think about that,” said Riley, who had eight extra-base hits, includ- ing three homers in his past five games, for the Peoria Javelinas, raising his aver- age to .357 with a robust .810 slugging percentage and an AFL-leading 1.235 OPS in 10 games before Friday. oping and “Just develop as try a third to my keep baseman (hitting) develapproach,” he said of his cur- rent goals. “When that (MLB arrival) time comes I’m just going to let it happen. Soon as I get there it’s going to be a great experience.”

Riley, whose slugging per- centage was 129 points above the next-highest in the pros- pect-laden fall league, was selected to play in today’s

AFL Fall Stars Game (8 p.m., MLB Network). Fellow Braves prospects Ronald Acuna, who was Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year, and right-hander Touki Toussaint also were picked to play in that show- case game.

ated catcher ing before the in Braves 19 the league a innings) buzz Friday, AFL Alex prospects in in in strikeouts Jackson Arizona, homers Fried and have starters’ leading lead- (five) with cre- (23 ERA Acuna and third (0.47), (1.084) in and OPS ranked Riley and each first and hitting homers over apiece. .350 with four

Riley missed more than a week with an elbow infec- tion, the cause of which remains unclear, though he thought it might have been from getting stuck by a cactus on a hike he took with a few teammates.

played returning in a hitting double, 26 pened surge a Entering — five-game the in for that seven triple, first the and the began Friday, time AFL hitting cycle was games homer) with that in 10 (single, he streak, nearly for since Riley hap- Oct. had 22 nine ability for a triple Riley a years. big and showed to man pretty the when right-center his good athletic he speed hit gap he rounded and never second hesitated base. as

hitter The 6-foot-3 dropped right-handed about 10 pounds and played at 225 this year, and the weight reduction has helped Riley’s lateral movements and range at third base — he made a diving stab on the line to prevent an extra-base hit in the cycle game — as well as his mobility on the bases.