Braves 3B Austin Riley won’t return this season with broken hand slow to heal

Should the Atlanta Braves make it to the postseason, Austin Riley will not be available for Brian Snitker’s team.

The Braves manager said Tuesday that CT scans showed that Riley’s broken hand is “not where the doctors wanted it to be” and that his season is finished, even if the team reaches the World Series.

Riley, 27, has been out since mid-August, when he was hit on the right hand by a pitch during a game against the Los Angeles Angels. It was originally estimated that he would be out for six to eight weeks, enough time for a return late in the regular season or at some point early in the playoffs.

Now, Riley is expected to be fully healthy when spring training begins in 2025.

Two days after Riley exited the lineup, the Braves signed veteran third baseman Gio Urshela. In 30 games, Urshela has batted .270 with three home runs and 13 RBI.

Riley, a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner, batted .256 with a .783 OPS this season, with 26 doubles, 19 home runs and 56 RBI in 110 games.

The Braves finish the regular season with a six-game home stand beginning Tuesday. They first will play three games against the New York Mets and then finish with three against the Kansas City Royals. As of Tuesday, they sit 1.5 games out of an NL wild-card spot.