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Brian Snitker

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Brian Gerald Snitker (born October 17, 1955) is an American professional baseball coach and former player who is the manager of the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Snitker has been in the Braves organization in different roles since playing in their minor league organization as a catcher and first baseman from 1977 to 1980. He became their manager in 2016.

Brian Snitker
Snitker with the Atlanta Braves in 2024
Atlanta Braves – No. 43
Coach / Manager
Born: (1955-10-17) October 17, 1955 (age 69)
Decatur, Illinois, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB statistics
(through August 13, 2024)
Managerial record709–565
Winning %.557
Managerial record at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

As coach

As manager

Career highlights and awards

Snitker led the Braves to the 2021 World Series, which they won games to 4–2 over the Houston Astros; it was the franchise's fourth World Series title, their first World Series appearance since 1999 and first championship since 1995.

Early life

 
Snitker as the Braves third base coach

Snitker was born in Decatur, Illinois to Richard F. Snitker and Catherine (Collins) Snitker.[1] He grew up in Macon, Illinois, where he attended Macon High School,[2] and played as a right fielder for the 1971 baseball team.[3] The team's surprising run to the state championship tournament was documented in Chris Ballard's 2012 book One Shot at Forever: A Small Town, an Unlikely Coach, and a Magical Baseball Season.[4][5]

As a youth, Snitker also played American Legion Baseball, an experience that he said in a 2018 interview, "Gave me the platform to be seen because there are always scouts at American Legion games. It had a big part on my development as a player and helping me get a jump on a professional career."[6]

Playing career

Snitker played two seasons of junior college ball for Lincoln College in 1975. He served as catcher for the Lynx baseball team where he was second team All-State. He finished his college career with two seasons at the University of New Orleans.[7]

Following his injury-shortened junior season at the University of New Orleans, Snitker was drafted in the 25th round of the MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs. He opted to return to UNO for his senior season, and then signed a free-agent contract with the Braves organization in 1977.[8] Snitker bounced around the minors, playing mostly catcher and some first base in the minor leagues, registering a slash line of .254/.316/.390 with 23 home runs in 780 at bats.[7]

Coaching career

The Braves released Snitker in 1980, but he remained with the Braves as a roving instructor and was hired as a minor league manager for the Anderson Braves in 1982, where he led the team to its only winning season of its five-year stint in Anderson,[9] before moving to the Durham Bulls the following season.[10] He also managed the Macon Braves, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Greenville Braves, Mississippi Braves and Richmond Braves, all in the Braves farm system. He was also the Atlanta Braves' bullpen coach in 1985 and 1988–1990.[11] A few of his honors during his fifteen-year run as a minor league manager are winning two championships with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 1999 and 2000,[12] and in those same years he won the Carolina League Manager of the Year.[13]

From 2007 to 2013, Snitker served as the Braves' third-base coach. He was named to that position on October 3, 2006,[14][15] replacing Fredi González, who left to join the Florida Marlins as manager. When González was named Braves manager for the 2011 season after Bobby Cox's retirement, Snitker was kept on as third base coach.

On October 14, 2013, Snitker was named the manager of the Braves Triple-A club, the Gwinnett Braves.[16]

Managerial career

On May 17, 2016, Snitker was named Atlanta's interim manager,[17] replacing Fredi González, who was fired. On October 11, 2016, the Braves named Snitker their full-time manager for the 2017 season.[18] The team announced on October 5, 2017, that Snitker would return as manager for the 2018 season.[19][20] On October 15, 2018, the Braves gave Snitker a two-year contract extension with a club option for 2021.[21] On November 13, 2018, Snitker was awarded the National League Manager of the Year Award for the 2018 season.[22][23] Snitker shared that year's Sporting News National League Manager of the Year Award with Craig Counsell.[24]

In 2019, Snitker led the Braves to their second consecutive division title. Snitker and Counsell were named finalists for the National League Manager of the Year Award in 2019,[25] losing to Mike Shildt. On October 23, 2019, Snitker won his second Sporting News National League Manager of the Year Award.[26] In February 2020, Snitker agreed to another contract extension with the Braves, through the 2021 season.[27] On September 22, 2020, he led them to a third straight NL East Division title as the Braves defeated the Marlins, 11–1.[28] Snitker led the Braves to a 2–0 series sweep over the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Wild Card Series, which was their first postseason series victory since 2001.[29] Although they reached the NLCS for the first time in 19 years,[30] the Braves lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games despite holding a 3–1 lead in the series.[31][32] The 2020 Braves managed to pitch four shutouts within the first five games of a postseason, joining the 1905 New York Giants as the only teams in Major League Baseball history to accomplish the feat.[33]

On February 26, 2021, Snitker signed another extension to remain with the Braves through the 2023 season with a club option for 2024.[34][35] In 2021, Snitker and the Braves went 88–73 during the regular season, defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series, beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, and won the World Series against the Houston Astros.[36][37] He came in fourth in the voting for National League Manager of the Year, as the award was won by San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler.[38]

On November 30, 2021, the Braves extended Snitker's contract through the 2024 season.[39] During the 2022 regular season the Braves went 101–61, for Snitker's first 100-win season as a manager.

On January 27, 2023, Snitker signed a three-year extension with the Braves that runs through the 2025 season.[40][41] The Braves won 104 games in the 2023 regular season, securing Snitker his second consecutive 100-win season.

Managerial record

As of games played on July 14, 2024
Team Year Regular season Postseason
Games Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
ATL 2016 124 59 65 .476 5th in NL East – – – –
ATL 2017 162 72 90 .444 3rd in NL East – – – –
ATL 2018 162 90 72 .556 1st in NL East 1 3 .250 Lost NLDS (LAD)
ATL 2019 162 97 65 .599 1st in NL East 2 3 .400 Lost NLDS (STL)
ATL 2020 60 35 25 .583 1st in NL East 8 4 .667 Lost NLCS (LAD)
ATL 2021 161 88 73 .547 1st in NL East 11 5 .688 Won World Series (HOU)
ATL 2022 162 101 61 .623 1st in NL East 1 3 .250 Lost NLDS (PHI)
ATL 2023 162 104 58 .642 1st in NL East 1 3 .250 Lost NLDS (PHI)
ATL 2024 124 66 58 – – – –
Total [42] 1,250 699 551 .559 24 21 .533

Personal life

Snitker and his wife, Veronica (Ronnie), have two children.[43][44] Snitker's father Richard died in 1993,[45] and his mother Catherine died in March 2019.[1]

In the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, Snitker's son Troy was drafted by the Braves in the 19th round and traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in March 2013.[46][47] After retiring as a player, Troy joined the Houston Astros organization as a coach.[48][49] The Atlanta Braves faced the Houston Astros in the 2021 World Series, making the series a family affair for the Snitkers.[50][51][52] Snitker and Troy, for the Braves and Astros, respectively, presented the lineup cards before Game Three of the World Series.[53]

References

  1. ^ a b Bowman, Mark (March 20, 2019). "Sobotka showing promise for Braves 'pen". MLB.com. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  2. ^ Vivlamore, Chris (April 30, 2021). "High school baseball field named for Brian Snitker". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Amy Glennon. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  3. ^ Tupper, Mark (May 22, 2016). "Brian Snitker: From Macon High School to manager of Braves". Herald & Review. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  4. ^ Ballard, Chris (June 28, 2010). "The Magical Season Of The Macon Ironmen". SI.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  5. ^ Ballard, Chris. "One Shot At Forever: A Small Town, An Unlikely Coach and a Magical Baseball Season". Hachette Book Group. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Field, Jeremy (August 2018) "Managers bring Legion Baseball experience to the majors" American Legion Magazine, page 44 and April 2018 interview [1]
  7. ^ a b Brian Snitker Minor Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com
  8. ^ "Former Catcher Brian Snitker Named Atlanta Braves Interim Manager".
  9. ^ Glaser, Kyle (October 30, 2021). "From Class A To The World Series, Braves Manager Brian Snitker Has Come A Long Way". Baseball America. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  10. ^ Ballard, Chris (August 12, 2021). "He's Old-School. He Doesn't Do Analytics. And He's Thriving in Today's MLB". Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  11. ^ "Brian Snitker is NL's top manager after leading Braves to East title". ESPN.com. November 13, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  12. ^ "Braves Weekend returning to Pelicans Ballpark. Here's who's coming and what's in store". Myrtle Beach Sun News. March 10, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  13. ^ "Braves name Brian Snitker as manager, announce 2017 Major League staff". MLB.com. October 11, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2020. "Longtime Gwinnett resident Snitker named Atlanta Braves manager for 2017". Gwinnett Daily Post. October 11, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2020. "Brian Snitker hired as Atlanta Braves manager". Albany Herald. October 11, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  14. ^ "Cox names 2007 coaching staff". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 3, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  15. ^ "Bobby Cox names 2007 coaching staff". WDUN. October 4, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  16. ^ Bowman, Mark (October 14, 2013). "Snitker to take over managerial duties at Gwinnett". MLB.com. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  17. ^ O'Brien, David. "Snitker expected to become Braves full-time manager". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  18. ^ Bowman, Mark (October 11, 2016). "Snitker officially named Braves manager". MLB.com. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  19. ^ "Braves exercise team option, retain manager Brian Snitker for 2018". ESPN.com. October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  20. ^ Bowman, Mark (October 7, 2017). "Braves exercise Snitker's option for 2018". MLB.com. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  21. ^ "Braves give Snitker two-year contract extension". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 15, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  22. ^ "Brian Snitker is NL's top manager after leading Braves to East title". ESPN.com. November 13, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  23. ^ Bowman, Mark (November 13, 2018). "Snitker named NL Manager of Year". MLB.com. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  24. ^ Foster, Jason (October 16, 2018). "Craig Counsell, Brian Snitker voted Sporting News NL Co-Managers of the Year". Sporting News. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  25. ^ Bowman, Mark (November 4, 2019). "Snitker, Soroka named BBWAA Award finalists". MLB.com. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  26. ^ Foster, Jason (October 23, 2019). "Braves' Brian Snitker voted 2019 Sporting News NL Manager of the Year". Sporting News. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  27. ^ Bowman, Mark (February 17, 2020). "Anthopoulos, Snitker ink extensions with Braves". MLB.com. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  28. ^ Kunkle, James (September 22, 2020). "The Atlanta Braves clinch the NL East!". TomahawkTake.com. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  29. ^ Bowman, Mark (October 2, 2020). "Braves blank Reds again to reach NLDS". MLB.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  30. ^ "Braves advance to NLCS for first time in 19 years with sweep of Marlins". WXIA-TV. October 8, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  31. ^ DiComo, Anthony (October 18, 2021). "5 reasons Braves will not let history repeat". MLB.com. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  32. ^ Burns, Gabriel (October 16, 2021). "For Braves and Dodgers, there shouldn't be many surprises in NLCS". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  33. ^ Kepner, Tyler (October 9, 2020). "Braves Buck Their Narrative and Break Through to the N.L.C.S." New York Times. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  34. ^ Bowman, Mark (February 26, 2021). "Braves sign Snitker to extension through '23". MLB.com. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  35. ^ "Atlanta Braves extend contract of manager Brian Snitker". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  36. ^ Rosenthal, Ken (November 3, 2021). "Rosenthal: For Braves manager Brian Snitker, a long, winding and unlikely journey ends with the dream of a world title". The Athletic. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  37. ^ Gonzalez, Alden (November 10, 2021). "World Series 2021 - Inside Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker's long and winding road to a championship". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  38. ^ "Gabe Kapler wins NL Manager of the Year after leading Giants to 107 victories". BBWAA – Baseball Writers' Association of America. January 23, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  39. ^ Bowman, Mark (November 30, 2021). "Braves extend Snitker's contract through '24". MLB.com. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  40. ^ Trezza, Joe. "Atlanta extends manager Snitker through 2025". mlb.com. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  41. ^ "Braves sign manager Brian Snitker to extension through 2025". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  42. ^ "Brian Snitker Managerial Record". Baseball Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  43. ^ Dillard, Zach (January 25, 2014). "Longtime Braves coach Snitker embracing return to minors". Fox Sports. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  44. ^ Bowman, Mark (May 24, 2016). "Proud grandfather Snitker relishes time with family". MLB.com. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  45. ^ Verducci, Tom (November 3, 2021). "Dues Paid in Full, the Braves Are World Champions". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  46. ^ Curtright, Guy (April 13, 2013). "MINOR LEAGUE NOTES: Sims finds going tough at Class A Rome". Gwinnett Daily Post. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  47. ^ Bowman, Mark (June 7, 2013). "Son of Braves third-base coach gets Draft call". MLB.com. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  48. ^ "Astros announce 2018 minor league managers and coaches". MLB.com. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  49. ^ Bowman, Mark (March 8, 2018). "Proud Papa". MLB.com. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  50. ^ Hummer, Steve (October 26, 2021). "The Snitkers lend World Series a joyous father-son subplot". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  51. ^ Walker, Ben (October 24, 2021). "Braves vs Astros: A World Series 6 decades in the making". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved October 24, 2021. Braves-Astros, a lot to savor in this World Series — even a family faceoff. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker's son, Troy, is a Houston hitting coach. "It's like the Snitkers are going to have a World Series trophy in their house here," dad said Saturday night. "I don't know who is going to own it, but we're going to have one. So that's a pretty cool thing, too."
  52. ^ Bowman, Mark (October 26, 2021). "Fall Classic 'special' family affair for Snitkers". MLB.com. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  53. ^ "Snikers enjoy family moment before World Series Game 3". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Associated Press. October 30, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
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