Austin Riley returns from the IL on July 25, 2025, to boost the Braves' lineup against the Texas Rangers. Can his bat spark a much-needed win for Atlanta?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when the Atlanta Braves needed it most, a familiar face is back in the dugout. All-Star third baseman Austin Riley was officially reinstated from the 10-day injured list on Friday, providing a massive jolt of energy and firepower to a lineup desperate for a spark. His return came just in time for a pivotal weekend series against the Texas Rangers, as the Braves look to right the ship after a tough loss to the Giants.
The cavalry has arrived. Austin Riley's bat is back in the lineup, and not a moment too soon for the 44-57 Braves.
The biggest news of the day is undoubtedly the return of Austin Riley. Sidelined with an undisclosed injury, his presence was sorely missed. He returns to action sporting a solid .274 batting average and .441 slugging percentage, ready to provide protection for Matt Olson (18 HR, 64 RBI) and add depth to the order. In a corresponding move, the promising but young infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. While tough for Alvarez, this allows him to get consistent at-bats and continue his development, while the big-league club gets its slugging third baseman back for the stretch run.
Riley's activation couldn't have been timed better, as the Braves kicked off a weekend series in Arlington against the Texas Rangers. Lefty Joey Wentz took the mound for Atlanta, facing off against veteran Nathan Eovaldi. The Braves, now 44-57, are in a critical phase of their season, needing to stack wins to climb back into contention. Despite their record, the pitching staff has been a relative bright spot, ranking 7th in the league in opponent batting average (.237). The matchup against the 53-50 Rangers is a significant test for a team looking to find its identity.
While Riley's return is a major positive, the training room still holds some long-term concerns. The team confirmed that promising young arm AJ Smith-Shawver will miss the remainder of the 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on June 9. His timeline for a return is pegged for 2026 or even 2027. On a more optimistic note, reliever Reynaldo López, who has been out since the start of the season with right shoulder inflammation, is reportedly progressing well after his own surgery. The team remains hopeful that López could contribute out of the bullpen before the season concludes, which would be a welcome boost for the pitching staff.
With Austin Riley back in the fold, the Braves have a key piece of their offensive engine running again. But one player, even one of Riley's caliber, can't turn the tide alone. The real test begins now. Can his return spark the entire roster and turn this crucial series in Texas into the beginning of a much-needed second-half surge? All eyes will be on Atlanta this weekend to see if the cavalry's arrival is enough to change their fortunes.
