Brian Snitker

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 becoming a minor league player in 1977. He became their manager in 2016.

Brian Snitker
Snitker with the Atlanta Braves in 2012
Atlanta Braves – No. 43
Coach / Manager
Born: (1955-10-17) October 17, 1955
Decatur, Illinois
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB statistics
Managerial record318-292
Winning %.521
Teams

    As coach

    As manager

    Career highlights and awards

    Biography

    Snitker played right field for the 1971 Macon High School baseball team in Illinois.[1] 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.[2][3]

    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."[4]

    Snitker is a graduate of the University of New Orleans.[5]

    Snitker joined the Braves organization in the minor leagues as a player in 1977, playing through 1980. He played mostly catcher and some first base in the minor leagues, batting .254/.316/.390 with 23 home runs in 780 at bats.[5]

    Snitker has been manager of the Anderson Braves, Macon Braves, Durham Bulls, 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.[6] 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,[7] and in those same years he won the Carolina League Manager of the Year.[8]

    From 2007 to 2013, Snitker served as the Braves' third-base coach. He was named to that position on October 3, 2006,[9][10] 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.[11]

    On May 17, 2016, Snitker was named Atlanta's interim manager,[12] replacing Fredi González, who was fired. On October 11, 2016, the Braves named Snitker their full-time manager for the 2017 season.[13] The team announced on October 5, 2017, that Snitker would return as manager for the 2018 season.[14][15] On October 15, 2018, the Braves gave Snitker a two-year contract extension with a club option for 2021.[16] On November 13, 2018, Snitker was awarded the National League Manager of the Year Award for the 2018 season.[17][18] Snitker shared that year's Sporting News National League Manager of the Year Award with Craig Counsell.[19] In 2019, he 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,[20] losing to Mike Shildt. On October 23, 2019, Snitker won his second Sporting News National League Manager of the Year Award.[21] In February 2020, Snitker agreed to another contract extension with the Braves, through the 2021 season.[22]

    Managerial record
    TeamYearRegular season recordPost–season record
    GWLWin %GWLWin %
    ATL2016 124 59 65 .476 - - - -
    ATL 2017 162 72 90 .444 - - - -
    ATL 2018 162 90 72 .555 4 1 3 .250
    ATL 2019 162 97 65 .599 5 2 3 .400
    Total 610 318 292 .521 9 3 6 .333
    Ref.:[23]

    Personal life

    Snitker and his wife, Veronica (Ronnie) have two children.[24][25] In the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft, Snitker's son Troy was drafted by the Braves in the 19th round and traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in March 2013.[26][27] After retiring as a player, Troy joined the Houston Astros organization as a coach.[28][29] Snitker's mother Catherine died in March 2019.[30]

    References
    1. Tupper, Mark (May 22, 2016). "Brian Snitker: From Macon High School to manager of Braves". Herald & Review. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
    2. Ballard, Chris (June 28, 2010). "The Magical Season Of The Macon Ironmen". SI.com. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
    3. Ballard, Chris (2012). One Shot at Forever: A Small Town, an Unlikely Coach, and a Magical Baseball Season. New York: Hyperion Books. ISBN 9781401324384.
    4. Field, Jeremy (August 2018) "Managers bring Legion Baseball experience to the majors" American Legion Magazine, page 44 and April 2018 interview
    5. Brian Snitker Minor Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com
    6. "Brian Snitker is NL's top manager after leading Braves to East title". ESPN.com. November 13, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
    7. "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.
    8. "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.
    9. "Cox names 2007 coaching staff". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 3, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
    10. "Bobby Cox names 2007 coaching staff". WDUN. October 4, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
    11. Bowman, Mark (October 14, 2013). "Snitker to take over managerial duties at Gwinnett". MLB.com. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
    12. O'Brien, David. "Snitker expected to become Braves full-time manager". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
    13. Bowman, Mark (October 11, 2016). "Snitker officially named Braves manager". MLB.com/. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
    14. "Braves exercise team option, retain manager Brian Snitker for 2018". ESPN.com. October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
    15. Bowman, Mark (October 7, 2017). "Braves exercise Snitker's option for 2018". MLB.com. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
    16. "Braves give Snitker two-year contract extension". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
    17. "Brian Snitker is NL's top manager after leading Braves to East title". ESPN.com. November 13, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
    18. Bowman, Mark (November 13, 2018). "Snitker named NL Manager of Year". MLB.com. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
    19. Foster, Jason (October 16, 2018). "Craig Counsell, Brian Snitker voted Sporting News NL Co-Managers of the Year". Sporting News. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
    20. Bowman, Mark (November 4, 2019). "Snitker, Soroka named BBWAA Award finalists". MLB.com. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
    21. Foster, Jason (October 23, 2019). "Braves' Brian Snitker voted 2019 Sporting News NL Manager of the Year". Sporting News. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
    22. Bowman, Mark (February 17, 2020). "Anthopoulos, Snitker ink extensions with Braves". MLB.com. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
    23. "Brian Snitker Managerial Record". Baseball Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
    24. Dillard, Zach (January 25, 2014). "Longtime Braves coach Snitker embracing return to minors". Fox Sports. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
    25. Bowman, Mark (May 24, 2016). "Proud grandfather Snitker relishes time with family". MLB.com. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
    26. Curtright, Guy (April 13, 2013). "MINOR LEAGUE NOTES: Sims finds going tough at Class A Rome". Gwinnett Daily Post. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
    27. Bowman, Mark (June 7, 2013). "Son of Braves third-base coach gets Draft call". MLB.com. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
    28. "Astros announce 2018 minor league managers and coaches". MLB.com. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
    29. Bowman, Mark (March 8, 2018). "Proud Papa". MLB.com. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
    30. Bowman, Mark (March 20, 2019). "Sobotka showing promise for Braves 'pen". MLB.com. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
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