THE FIRST TIME Atlanta Braves scouts saw future star third baseman Austin Riley, he was pitching. It was summer 2014, and former national cross-checker Sean Rooney was scouting the two-way prospect at the Perfect Game National Showcase.
"He was a good pitcher, 88-92 miles per hour, good breaking ball, good delivery," Rooney said. "But he immediately stood out more as a hitter to me. The power, the swing, the ease of his actions made him more appealing to me as a position player."
Later that summer, former scouting director Brian Bridges saw Riley hit a ball out of the complex at a tournament in the suburbs of Atlanta.