Braves make a shocking change to their organization

Paul Davis has been around the game a long time, spending a year as the Seattle Mariners’ pitching coach in 2019 before joining the Braves, where he oversaw the development of numerous standout arms throughout the organization.

Few teams have produced more pitching talent through their farm system in recent years than the Atlanta Braves. Spencer Strider took the league by storm a few years ago. Spencer Schwellenbach is off to an equally impressive start to his career. AJ Smith-Shawver took a major step forward before going down with an injury, and Hurston Waldrep showed all the makings of a rotation regular as a rookie this year.

The Braves’ hit rate on pitching prospects in recent seasons has been remarkable, and several more arms are on the cusp of reaching the majors, headlined by JR Ritchie and Didier Fuentes — both of whom could become regulars in Atlanta by 2026.

It’s impossible to know what was happening behind closed doors, but based on the on-field success of the Braves’ young arms, it’s difficult to argue that Paul Davis wasn’t doing an excellent job. Perhaps the only legitimate concern has been the number of injuries, but pinning that solely on one person seems disingenuous — if that’s indeed what the Braves are doing here.

Beyond that, this move feels reminiscent of Atlanta’s decision to part ways with their hitting coach after last season. The Braves’ lineup experienced a significant drop-off from 2023 to 2024, though that was largely due to injuries. Nearly every key player spent time on the IL. At no point was Kevin Seitzer responsible for the team’s offensive struggles. In fact, he should have been praised for the club’s previous success.

That point became even clearer in 2025. The Braves’ offense took another step backward this season despite being much healthier, while Seitzer helped lead a resurgent Mariners lineup to the postseason — and they now sit just one game away from the ALCS.

Hopefully, history doesn’t repeat itself.