Braves’ Austin Riley pays tribute to his longtime baseball mentor

The Atlanta Braves won the series against the Tampa Bay Rays, but their star third baseman played with extra weight. Their star slugger in the field, Austin Riley, had an impressive series – hitting a home run in each of the three contests. However, Sunday’s bombshell had a much greater significance.

During home run trots, players often point toward the sky. For Riley, Sunday’s circuit was more than just a display of skill. It was a heartfelt tribute to his longtime friend, mentor and former Braves hitting coach Mike Brumley, who played an important role in Riley’s career and life.

Mike Brumley was the second most important person in Riley’s baseball career.

Most recently, Mike Brumley was the minor league hitting coordinator for the Atlanta Braves from 2018 to 2022. During that span, Brumley saw Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley play their way through the Atlanta farm system all the way to the major leagues.

For Riley, learning that his coach died in a car accident early Sunday morning at 2 a.m. was devastating. However, he still played and praised his lifelong baseball role model after finishing the game.

The 27-year-old’s team still has three matches to play at home, with an off day on Thursday. He and everyone in the Braves organization will be able to pay tribute to the Brumley family during this tragic loss in this time frame before heading to New York.

With his recent streak of success at the plate, his mentor would be proud of his accomplishments and the player he is becoming.