"The start of spring training is usually the time of year where we start to hear copious reports about [insert any baseball player you want here] being in The Best Shape of His Life heading into camp. Ronald Acuña Jr. may fall into this category after he was spotted hitting batting practice bombs at the start of spring training and exclaiming loudly that " I'M HEALTHY!" afterwards."
"you might even say that it's crucial that he stays healthy going forward. That man is Austin Riley, who has spent the past two seasons scuffling a bit and seeing his campaign get cut short due to injury. Just when Riley was starting to really get rolling in 2024, he got hit on the wrist with a heater and that was it for his season. A sports hernia essentially derailed anything that Riley had going on in 2025."
"We got a clear example of that up close and personal in 2021 when this team won the World Series without Ronald Acuña Jr. playing any games in the second half or Postseason. With that being said, it's a stone cold fact that this team absolutely needs to have Austin Riley doing well at the hot corner and the bottom line is that if this team is going to accomplish what it wants to, they need Riley to be healthy and productive."
Spring training brings optimism as players proclaim peak physical condition ahead of camp. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. displayed visible health and power in batting practice. Austin Riley struggled through the past two seasons, with a 2024 wrist hit ending his year and a sports hernia disrupting 2025. The Braves can win without any single player, but Riley's health and production at third base significantly affect Atlanta's championship prospects. The 2021 World Series showed team depth without Acuña, but consistent contribution from Riley remains crucial. Riley appears to be feeling good entering this season.
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