LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- As Austin Riley sat at his locker before serving as the Braves designated hitter in Wednesday afternoon's 6-4 loss to the Mets, he stared at his phone, watching video of his plate appearances during the Arizona Fall League and his recent matchup against Max Scherzer.
Provided the thrill of facing the three-time Cy Young Award winner during Sunday's game against the Nationals, Riley gained a better understanding of what he had learned while spending the previous few days talking to Chipper Jones about the cerebral approach to hitting.
"It's been an honor to be around that type of player and pick his brain about, really, the mental side of hitting and the importance of trying to get inside the pitcher's head," Riley said.