Braves Manager Brian Snitker Likely to Retire After Season

Following 50 years with the Atlanta Braves organization, manager Brian Snitker is reportedly planning on retiring at the end of the 2025 season.

Braves Manager Brian Snitker Likely to Retire After Season

The news, reported by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, suggests that Snitker, 69, will step down following the conclusion of the 2025 campaign. His contract is up at the season’s end, and with the Braves currently 12.5 games behind in the NL East and 44-55 on the year, Snitker’s tenure could be drawing to a close.

Snitker spent his entire career with the Braves, rising through the ranks within the organization after his playing days ended. He took over as the team’s manager in 2016 following the firing of Fredi Gonzalez. His leadership has been marked by six division titles, two 100-win seasons, the 2018 National League Manager of the Year Award, and, most notably, the 2021 World Series championship. However, this season has proven to be one of the most difficult of his career.

As for Snitker’s successor, reports indicate that two names have emerged as the leading candidates: Skip Schumaker and Walt Weiss.

Skip Schumaker: A Rising Managerial Star in MLB

Schumaker, 45, recently completed a successful two-season stint as the manager of the Miami Marlins, where he led the team to the playoffs in 2023, earning National League Manager of the Year honors. 

Schumaker’s track record of success, combined with his youth, makes him an appealing option for a Braves organization looking to remain competitive into the future. Schumaker has proven he can manage at a high level, and his experience in the National League adds to his appeal.

While Schumaker is considered a front-runner for the Braves job, there’s a chance he could also be in line to take over as manager of the Texas Rangers if Bruce Bochy decides to retire again. However, the Braves job could offer Schumaker an opportunity to manage a team already stocked with talent and positioned to contend for years to come.

Walt Weiss: The Braves Veteran

Weiss, 61, is currently the Braves’ bench coach and has been with the organization since the 2018 season. Weiss turned down an opportunity to interview for the Marlins’ managerial opening in 2022, a position that ultimately went to Schumaker, to stay in Atlanta.

While his time managing the Colorado Rockies between 2013 and 2016 was unremarkable, Weiss’s relationship with Braves players and knowledge of the team’s inner workings make him a promising candidate for the job, even if he may be better suited for a supporting role at this stage of his career. The Braves’ coaching staff may be preparing for a future that could exclude their longtime bench coach.

The Future of the Braves

The Braves’ appeal to managerial candidates is clear, with a young, talented roster filled with stars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, and Ozzie Albies, along with a solid farm system. However, Snitker’s successor will also inherit a team that is currently facing challenges in the pitching department. The Braves’ rotation has struggled with injuries and underperformance in 2025, a major reason the team may miss the postseason this year.

While the Braves have traditionally favored internal candidates, with Snitker being a prime example, the situation may be different this time. Ron Washington left the organization to become the Angels’ manager, and with Weiss’s age, the Braves could be more open to looking outside of the organization.

Snitker’s Legacy

Snitker’s impact on the Braves is undeniable. His tenure has seen the Braves evolve from a rebuilding team to a consistent postseason contender.

However, with the team in the midst of a rare down year and the future of the roster looking promising despite this season’s shortcomings, Snitker may decide the time is right to step away.

The Atlanta Braves’ search for a new manager could soon become a closely watched storyline in baseball, with Schumaker and Weiss as the likely candidates to fill Snitker’s shoes.