Austin Riley
A homegrown power hitter with a smooth swing, he has become the offensive cornerstone and defensive stalwart for the modern Atlanta Braves.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American baseball player·Birthday: April 2·Generation Z
Biography
Austin Riley represents the successful culmination of the Atlanta Braves' patient rebuilding plan. Drafted out of a Mississippi high school, he moved deliberately through the farm system, transforming from a raw, power-hitting shortstop into a polished third baseman. His arrival in the majors in 2019 wasn't just a call-up; it was an eruption. He immediately provided a jolt of right-handed power the lineup desperately needed, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting. But Riley is no mere slugger. He has refined his approach at the plate, cutting down on strikeouts and consistently hitting for both power and average, earning Silver Slugger awards and MVP votes. Defensively, he has silenced early doubts with soft hands, a powerful arm, and Gold Glove-caliber plays at the hot corner. Alongside Ronald Acuña Jr., he forms the heart of a Braves lineup that returned the franchise to the top of the baseball world with a World Series championship in 2021, establishing himself as one of the game's premier two-way stars.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Austin was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Austin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Austin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the World Series with the Atlanta Braves in 2021, delivering key hits throughout the postseason.
- Won the National League Silver Slugger Award at third base in both 2022 and 2023.
- Finished in the top 10 in National League MVP voting in 2022 and 2023.
- Hit over 35 home runs in three consecutive seasons (2021-2023), establishing himself as an elite power hitter.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted as a shortstop but was moved to third base permanently in the minor leagues.
He hit a home run in his first MLB postseason at-bat during the 2020 NLDS.
He signed a 10-year, $212 million contract extension with the Braves in August 2022.
He played high school baseball at DeSoto Central High School in Southaven, Mississippi, the same school that produced MLB pitcher Spencer Turnbull.
“See the ball, hit the ball hard, and play solid defense.”
