Austin Riley is among MLB Network's top 10 third basemen for the 2026 season.
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley is a star. However, Riley was limited to 102 games played during the 2025 season. He also struggled at times while on the field. Nevertheless, MLB Network's The Shredder (MLB Network's data-driven system for determining position rankings without bias) still has Riley as a top 10 third baseman in baseball. However, he is narrowly on the list, checking in at No. 10 overall.
Cleveland Guardians star Jose Ramirez is No. 1 overall. The rest of the list includes the following players in order: Max Muncy, Alex Bregman, Matt Chapman, Manny Machado, Junior Caminero, Bo Bichette, Isaac Paredes, Eugenio Suarez and Riley.
Is Austin Riley Actually the 10th Best Third Baseman in MLB Heading into 2026?
From a ceiling standpoint, Riley could be higher on the list. However, he has played in 110 games or less in each of the past two seasons, and his performance has seen a decline in both years.
Riley made the All-Star team in both 2022 and 2023. He established himself as one of the best right-handed hitting third baseman in MLB during that time. His numbers have dwindled in recent seasons, and perhaps injuries have played a role in his underwhelming performance.
In 2025, Riley slashed just .260/.309/.428 across 447 plate appearances. He added 16 home runs, 20 doubles and 54 RBI. He obviously hit less home runs than his best years, as he appeared in less overall games. Riley hit 38 and 37 long balls in 2022 and 2023.
With that being said, Riley's home run percentage has declined. From 2021-2023, Riley finished with a 5.0 home run percentage or better in each year. In 2025, that mark dropped to 3.6 percent.
At only 28 years old, it is far too early to give up on Riley. He could unquestionably get back on track with a healthy season. Riley is under contract through 2032, and he has a club option for 2033. The pressure of a contract year will not spark a bounce back campaign anytime soon, but Riley's talent and drive should lead to him figuring things out nonetheless.
It would not be surprising to see him among the top 10 third baseman next year. He is still more than capable of hitting for much better overall numbers. For now, he will have to settle for No. 10 overall -- at least, according to MLB Network's The Shredder.