Coming off their first playoff-free season in eight years, the Braves will have a new manager leading them in 2026 in their hope of returning to contention.
World Series-winning manager Brian Snitker is transitioning to an advisory role for the 2026 season and will be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame next season, Atlanta announced Wednesday.
Snitker, 69, guided the Braves for nine-plus seasons and led the franchise to its last World Series win — and fourth overall — in 2021.
He helped make Atlanta one of baseball’s premier organizations during his tenure, leading the team to seven straight playoffs from 2018-24, including a 2020 NLCS appearance and the 2021 title.
Snitker tallied an 811-668 (.548) record, the third-most wins by any Atlanta manager and won the 2018 NL Manager of the Year award.
The veteran manager spent 49 overall years with the Braves, including time in the minors.
Some of the outlook on Snitker had started to sour in recent years following three one-and-done postseason exits from 2022-24, including two to the rival Phillies.
The 2025 Braves entered the year expecting to be in a divisional battle with the Mets and Phillies, but they quickly faded out of the race due to a seemingly never-ending onslaught of injuries.
Chris Sale made only 20 starts, Spencer Strider tallied just 23, Spencer Schwellenbach took the ball 17 times and Reynaldo Lopez made just one appearance, among other setbacks.
Austin Riley appeared in 102 games, while Ronald Acuna Jr. suited up for 95 games in his return from an ACL tear.
The Braves finished in fourth with a 76-86 record for their first losing season since 2017, which marked Snitker’s first full season as manager after replacing Freddi Gonzalez during the 2016 campaign.
Whoever replaces Snitker will inherit a talented roster that has shown it can be among the best in the sport, but the rotation’s injury concerns can quickly derail the season.
