Austin Riley’s season ends with sports hernia surgery; Braves add starter Cal Quantrill

ATLANTA — Braves third baseman Austin Riley had season-ending surgery Thursday for a core muscle injury that’s commonly known as a sports hernia. Recovery typically takes around six weeks, so Riley should be ready well before spring training.

It was a busy day for the Braves, who also claimed right-hander Cal Quantrill off waivers from the Miami Marlins and immediately inserted him into their starting rotation. Quantrill, who was 4-10 with a 5.50 ERA in 24 starts for Miami, is scheduled to start Saturday for the Braves against the New York Mets at Truist Park.

Atlanta placed infielder Luke Williams on the 10-day injured list for a strained left oblique and activated outfielder Jake Fraley, who was claimed off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.

Additionally, the Braves optioned right-handed relievers Dane Dunning and Connor Seabold to Triple A and recalled lefty Dylan Dodd — more bullpen churn to add another fresh arm to a unit that’s had a heavy workload recently.

Cal Quantrill is joining his fourth team in three seasons. (Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)

For Riley, 28, this makes two disappointing, injury-plagued seasons in a row. He hit .260 with 16 homers, 54 RBIs and a .737 OPS in 102 games. It’s the second consecutive year he had full-season career-lows in each of the latter four of those categories, after hitting .256 with 19 homers, 56 RBIs and a .783 OPS in 110 games in 2024.

In his first three full seasons through 2023, Riley hit .286 with an .878 OPS while averaging 36 homers and 99 RBIs. He had a 135 OPS+ in those three seasons and a 110 OPS+ over the past two seasons.

Riley was on the IL for a second time in a month with what had been diagnosed as a lower abdominal strain. When soreness lingered, he was sent to Philadelphia to see Dr. William Meyers, a leading core-injury specialist.

Meyers performed the sports hernia surgery Thursday. Rookie Nacho Alvarez Jr. will continue to fill in at third base.

(Photo: Ed Zurga / Getty Images)