The Atlanta Braves received a critical update on third baseman Austin Riley ahead of their Friday matchup against the Miami Marlins. Riley will undergo a CT scan on Monday to assess the healing process. He has been sidelined since August 18 due to a right-hand fracture.
Austin Riley is due for a CT scan Monday, and the result could dictate whether he can get his cast off. You know Riley — he’s hoping to be back in time for the postseason, should the Braves make it. The fracture was to the base of his hamate on his right hand.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) September 20, 2024
Specifically, doctors are looking to see if the hamate bone at the base of his hand and part of the wrist joint has healed enough to remove the cast. This test is crucial for determining if Riley can return in 2024, but his status remains uncertain until those results are in.
#Braves 3B Austin Riley will have a CT scan on Monday to determine if his broken right hand is healed fully and if he can remove the cast. By the way, it was the hamate bone that he broke, he said today. The base of that small bone.
— David O’Brien (@DOBrienATL) September 20, 2024
Riley’s injury, which occurred after being hit by a pitch, has had a noticeable impact on the Braves. At the time of his injury, Riley was hitting .257 with a .783 OPS, with 19 home runs and 56 RBIs in 110 games. The Braves were 60-50 in games where Riley played, compared to a 66-58 overall record at the time. Since his absence, the Braves have gone 17-12 and hold a 23-20 record without him. While these numbers suggest the team has managed to stay afloat, they’re clearly stronger with Riley manning third base.
In baseball, slight differences can have a considerable impact, and Riley’s absence is a prime example. Even a few extra wins, like those Riley may have contributed to, can be the difference in a tight race with division rivals like the New York Mets. For context, if you look at batting averages and move the decimal over two places, those numbers reflect how slim the margins are in baseball. Every point matters.
The injury bug hasn’t just hit Riley, either. Braves second baseman Whit Merrifield recently voiced his frustrations with the number of sidelined players due to hit-by-pitches this season. Riley’s replacement, Gio Urshela, initially seemed like a solid fill-in, but his production has tapered off sharply since September began, leaving the Braves in a tough spot.
The silver lining is that Riley’s recovery appears to be progressing. While the upcoming scan is just step one in the process, it offers hope that Riley could return for a postseason run.
However, the Braves can’t count their chickens just yet. They need to secure their playoff position first, and having Riley back in time could be crucial. We will be holding our their breath until the results of Monday’s scan come in.
