Former Braves hitting instructor Mike Brumley of Fort Myers, Florida, passed away in a car crash. Riley collaborated with him in Baltimore this week. Riley said he hasn’t gone back to sleep since learning of Brumley’s death at 2:30 this morning. Aside from Riley’s father, Brumley was the main influence on his success. Thanks to Mark Bowman of MLB.
Concerning Mike Brumley
Fort Myers, Florida: A few years ago, Austin Riley was pushed to the majors by his coach, Mike Brumley, who helped him convert his innate strength into a competitive performance. Brumley assisted the Braves third baseman in making the first team of the All-MLB last season. Brumley, though, is no longer a member of the squad.
Riley will be able to communicate with Brumley, though, as he was before the coach left because he refused to get the immunization that MLB mandates be given to all managers, coaches, and staff members who work closely with players on a daily basis.
Riley plans to stay in touch with Brumley—a former minor league hitting coordinator for the Braves who was in camp during 2021 spring training—even if they are unable to collaborate as effectively as they did a year ago. Riley and Brumley will continue to trade recordings in the event that Riley has swing problems.
Riley remains hitless in his first two spring games and went 0-for-3 against the Boston Red Sox on Monday at JetBlue Park in a 5-0 Grapefruit League loss. With his 2021 season in mind, Riley is not worried about anything he does or does not do during spring training.
About Austin Riley
Michael Austin Riley is an American professional baseball player who plays third base for the Major League Baseball (MLB) Atlanta Braves. He was born on April 2, 1997. In the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft, he was selected by the Braves with the 41st overall choice.
Riley played football and baseball at DeSoto Central High School. Riley was raised in Mississippi after being born in Memphis. Riley excelled as a high school pitcher and third baseman. Riley had intended to attend Mississippi State University to play baseball before he was drafted by the Braves and decided against going to college. Riley made his minor league debut with the Gulf Coast Braves in 2015 and spent the next few seasons in the Braves farm system.
Riley debuted with the Braves in Major League Baseball that same year. He would gain notoriety very fast, winning the World Series and the Silver Slugger Award in 2021. Following a strong start to the 2022 season, Riley inked a record-breaking ten-year contract deal worth $212 million with the team.
Mike Brumley’s family will post his obituary and burial arrangements.