Photo: Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley is shown when his high school baseball jersey was retired at DeSoto Central High School. (Bob Bakken/DeSoto County Sports)
A huge pay boost for Southaven’s own Austin Riley Monday, as the Atlanta Braves’ third baseman has signed a 10-year, $210-million contract with the Braves.
The Braves organization announced the signing on its social media Monday afternoon. It is the largest contract in team history.
Riley’s walk-off double in the Braves’ 1-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday gave him a franchise-record 26 extra-base hits for the month, eclipsing Hank Aaron’s July 1961 extra base hit record. The former DeSoto Central standout entered August with 61 extra base knocks.
Riley last season earned a Silver Slugger Award and was part of the Braves’ World Series Championship team. He was named to the National League All-Star team that played in the classic last month.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
