Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves

Braves’ Austin Riley homers in big-league debut

Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in his first game
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in Braves’ win
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in Braves’ win
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in Braves’ win
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in Braves’ win
Photos: Braves’ Austin Riley crushes home run in Braves’ win
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Braves outfielder Austin Riley hits a solo home run in his first major-league game on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
By
May 16, 2019

Austin Riley brought his home-run swing with him to Atlanta.

Riley, who hit 13 home runs in his past 18 games for Triple-A Gwinnett before being promoted to the big leagues, homered on his second at-bat Wednesday night at SunTrust Park.

His solo home run in the fourth inning of the Braves’ game against St. Louis was estimated to travel 438 feet into the left-center field stands at a 109.1-mph exit velocity. It came against Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha.

Riley, making his MLB debut, struck out in his first at-bat in the second inning.

MORE: Riley’s big bat gets him to Atlanta at unfamiliar position.

About the Author

Tim Tucker, a long-time AJC sports reporter, often writes about the business side of the games. He also had stints as the AJC's Braves beat writer, UGA beat writer, sports notes columnist and executive sports editor. He was deputy managing editor of America's first all-sports newspaper, The National Sports Daily.

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