The Atlanta Braves have several questions to answer this offseason after falling short of their ultimate goal. Although Atlanta returned to the top of the National League East division, its postseason run ended in the Division Series, leaving the front office with plenty of work to do before 2027.
“The Braves won the NL East and defeated the (Philadelphia) Phillies in the wild card round before falling to the Dodgers in the NLDS,” Mark Polishuk recalled for MLB Trade Rumors. “It was a nice return to form for the Braves after their injury-marred 76-86 season in 2025, but Atlanta will need to fill some roster holes and perhaps address some broader concerns in order to be championship contenders next year.”
One of those concerns involves a key member of Atlanta’s lineup. Despite the club’s progress, a highly paid infield slugger endured a difficult season at the plate, prompting questions about how the organization will help him regain his previous form.
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Austin Riley has been one of the Braves’ important offensive contributors in recent years, but his 2026 campaign fell well below expectations. The third baseman finished with career lows in batting average and OPS while setting an unwanted franchise record for strikeouts.
“Unfortunately for Riley, he hasn’t been numb to the frustration he has felt while producing career lows in both batting average (.222) and OPS (.662),” MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reported. “He’s also set a franchise single-season record with a career-high 197 strikeouts, two of which were registered as Eury Pérez dazzled the Braves with a one-hit shutout on Friday.”
The numbers underscore the challenge facing Atlanta as it evaluates its roster this winter. Riley has demonstrated the ability to produce at a much higher level, but the Braves need to find a way to translate that potential into consistent results again. And adding to the level of concern is the fact that Riley managed to stay healthy this season, but wasn’t able to produce the kind of offensive results that justify his blockbuster contract.
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Atlanta Braves Boss Alex Anthopoulos Sends Austin Riley Message After Playoff Exit
Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos addressed Riley’s disappointing season while discussing the team’s offseason priorities shortly after the playoff elimination.
The front office executive was forced to acknowledge that the star infielder did not play up to his own standards.
“That’s something we’re going to spend a lot of time having conversations about, trying to get him back on track,” Anthopoulos said, according to Bowman. “From an offensive standpoint, he’s still a young player and is capable of so much more. He’s shown that, and we’re going to continue to work at it.”
The message signals that the Braves still believe Riley can be a more productive hitter. His defensive value and established track record give Atlanta reasons to remain patient, but the team cannot ignore the offensive concerns as it pursues another championship run.
How the Braves approach Riley’s offseason could be an important part of their broader effort to improve the roster. With several decisions ahead, restoring production from a key player may be just as significant as finding outside additions.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com