Austin Riley opens up about family; Harris gets closer after recent setback

“I feel like I’m getting old,” Riley joked Thursday at Citi Field.

Then he said, “No, it’s great to have a partner who can go through all of this. She’s the best. She’s a great mom. Especially in the industry that we’re in, she’s basically a single mom for half the year. It’s great. I can’t say (enough) how great she is and what a great mom she’s become.”

On Thursday, the Braves put Riley back on the paternity list. He spent two days there, but missed only one game. Anna gave birth to Beau at 12:34 a.m. Tuesday. Riley said he’s slept “a little” the last few days. But he added he’s ready to return after that.

Riley missed Eason’s birth, so he wanted to be cautious the second time around. He left Monday’s game early and had a few hours to spare before Beau was born. The emotions he felt seeing Beau for the first time mirrored those he felt when Eason was born in 2022.

“Oh yeah, yeah. Of course,” Riley said. “The experience is unprecedented. Just seeing what Anna goes through and the whole process amazes me, I’m in awe of what women are capable of going through. She’s a real fighter. She’s doing great at home. It’s incredible.”

On Tuesday, Braves manager Brian Snitker said he always tells players that baseball will be even better after having kids because life won’t be all about the game. Those kids, Snitker said, won’t care how the game goes.

“He said it best: I can have a bad day, a good day here, come home and as soon as I walk in the door, they’re yelling ‘Dad!’ It’s the best feeling ever,” Riley said. “It puts everything in perspective. Anna’s doing great, Beau’s doing great. I’m really happy that everything worked out.”

Snitker enters Hall of Fame

On Friday, the Appalachian League announced that Snitker — who played and coached in the league — will be inducted into the Appalachian League Hall of Fame.

“That’s where it all started,” Snitker said.

Snitker was a catcher for the Kingsport Braves in 1977. “I actually think we won the league that year,” he said. He was right: He drove in the winning run to win the league crown.

“I don’t remember what I had for breakfast,” Snitker jokes. “That was 50 years ago.”

In 1996, he coached the Danville Braves, who won the league title that season.

He now also has a World Series ring.

Michael Harris II moves closer after setback

The Braves recently placed Michael Harris II (hamstring strain) on the 60-day injured list. He is not expected to return until Aug. 14.

The fact that the Braves made the move when they did shows they were confident Harris wouldn’t be ready until mid-August. But a few weeks ago, Harris said the trend was upward.

“Then he started feeling something, that was it, so they had to take a step back,” Snitker said.

Snitker also said: “He’s going to have to go out for a little while now and get back in shape.”

Did Harris suffer this setback while he was a candidate?

“Just in the drills and stuff,” Snitker said. “He had a little hint of something. When that happens, they kind of shut them down again and start over. It’s good to see what he did today, it’s kind of a pretty advanced workout and everything, so I think he’s getting closer.”