Austin Riley is well ahead of pace to surpass Andruw Jones in the Atlanta Braves' record books, alongside bash brother teammate Matt Olson.
What Austin Riley has done at the plate since the All-Star Break for the Atlanta Braves is absolutely mind-boggling.
In Atlanta's 8-0 shutout victory over the Chicago Cubs, Riley connected on his 10th home run since the Midsummer Classic. It gave the All-Star third baseman his 26th big fly on the season, moving him into second place on the team behind only first baseman Matt Olson, who has 37. For those keeping score, the franchise record in a single season is 51, thanks to Andruw Jones in 2005.
With Olson essentially a shoe-in to hang more than half a hundred moonshots this season, what are the chances Riley joins him and Jones in the 50-burger palooza party over in The ATL this year?
Since the All-Star Game, Riley is on an, I kid you not, an 86 home-run pace in the second half!
Austin Riley home run rate: Will he pass Andruw Jones for most in team history?
Absurdly high home-run rates aside, Riley needs to connect on 25 more baseballs and send them into the bleachers to match Jones' 2005 mark of 51. Since Riley, Olson, second baseman Ozzie Albies and right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. play every day, we are looking at 55 more games the rest of the way for either of the Atlanta bash brothers to get to 51. Olson needs 14 more to match it.
For Riley to get there, he is going to need to hit a home run pretty much every other game the rest of the way. And with Olson, he needs to park one in the bleachers about every three or four games. Basically, Riley's second-half home-run rate is not anything close to sustainable. If he continues to swing the bat well, he should break 40. Olson, well, he could be the new record-setter.
I think what is getting lost in all this is Atlanta has multiple NL MVP candidates in the same starting lineup. Why do you think manager Brian Snitker plays these same four guys every single day? We are undeniably watching one of the greatest single-season offenses ever assembled. The best part is this season the Braves are having will only add to the legacy of Jones' greatest season.
By approaching or breaking Jones' team record, let's hope the homers land him into Cooperstown.
