Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley credited franchise legend Chipper Jones for helping refine his hitting approach and mental preparation. Riley detailed the guidance during an interview with Mookie Betts as Atlanta completed a series sweep over the Colorado Rockies.
During a Bleacher Report interview, Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts asked Riley about the Hall of Famer’s presence around the batting cage: “In July earlier this year during BP, you have him around, and I’m sure a bunch of other people, but Chipper in specific. What has he done for you? Is he just someone you talk to? You call when you’re going through something? Do you ask him questions?”
Riley highlighted the technical and strategic adjustments gained from working alongside Jones. He stated: “Oh yeah, for sure… Once a home stand, he pops in and out. For me, the biggest thing that I’ve gained from him is just the approach and mental side of the game, that chess match that he was so good at. Nowadays everybody’s throwing 100. It’s a four-seam, it’s a two-seam, it’s a cutter. You got guys coming out of the pen that are throwing three different fastballs. It’s like, how do I game-plan for that? So I think he’s been really good at that. I naturally have a slide in my load. So him being able to talk about just slow feet, lower-body stuff, trying to keep my head as still as possible. That’s what I’ve really valued, learning stuff from him from a hitting standpoint. Like I said, he’s one of the best to ever do it.”
The technical feedback focuses on mechanical stability against high velocity. Controlling lower-body movement allows Riley to keep his head still, improving pitch recognition against late movement. Through 135 games this season, Riley is batting .220 with 106 hits, 15 home runs, 61 RBIs, and nine stolen bases.
Atlanta sits atop the National League East with an 82-55 record following Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Colorado.
With divisional races tightening, individual mechanical adjustments will prove crucial as the Braves open their next series hosting the San Francisco Giants on Monday.
