Braves Dodge “Major Bullet”: Austin Riley Avoids Fracture After Scary 95 MPH HBP, Listed Day-to-Day.vc
The All-Star third baseman was forced to leave Friday’s game after being struck on the hand, but X-rays came back negative, bringing relief to an already injury-hit Atlanta team.
NORTH PORT, Fla. — The Atlanta Braves and their fans can finally “let out a sigh of relief.” All-Star third baseman Austin Riley, who was forced to exit Friday’s game after being struck by a 95-mile-per-hour fastball, has avoided a major injury.
The scary incident occurred when a 95 MPH fastball ran inside and struck Riley directly on the right hand. The slugger initially tried to stay in the game, but he was removed shortly after when the pain and swelling became too much.
Riley was immediately sent for further testing to determine the extent of the damage, leaving the Braves faithful “holding their breath.”
Just over an hour after the incident, Braves beat writer Justin Toscano revealed the results: X-rays were negative, and Riley did not suffer a fracture. Toscano reported that Riley will be considered “day-to-day,” a common diagnosis in such events as the team waits for the significant swelling to subside.
The news is a “major bullet dodged” for an Atlanta team that has already been fighting the injury bug in 2025. The Braves are already set to be without catcher Sean Murphy (cracked rib), superstar Ronald Acuña Jr., and ace Spencer Strider for a significant chunk of the 2025 season.
Losing Riley, a cornerstone of the lineup, for several months as well would have been a devastating and “very unfortunate” blow to the team’s chances. For now, Atlanta has avoided a worst-case scenario.
