What message are Braves sending with coaching carousel?

The memories of Fredi Gonzalez in Atlanta are not warm and fuzzy. He was the manager of the Braves from 2011-2016, amassing a record of 434-414 before he was relieved of his duties in the middle of the 2016 campaign, which is when Brian Snitker took over. Some might look for a deeper meaning, but it’s really this simple: Matt Tuiasosopo was really bad at his job, and Fredi Gonzalez has a wealth of experience as a third base coach.

On several occasions, Matt Tuiasosopo sent runners to the plate that didn’t even have a chance to score, some of which went on to cost the Braves wins. It’s really hard to be so bad as a third base coach that you get fired just two months into the season, but Tuiasosopo was noticeably abysmal, and with the firing, it does send a pretty clear message to the team.

The Braves have been miserable when it comes to the details. They don’t do the little things offensively to manufacture runs, and their base running has been reckless in pivotal moments. Not good for a team that’s played in more one-run games than any other club in baseball. This move feels like an attempt to raise the standard — not just among the coaching staff, but across the entire roster.

It’s also worth noting: Matt Tuiasosopo is the first coach Alex Anthopoulos has ever dismissed midseason. That alone is telling. But this isn’t just an isolated shake-up — it’s the latest in a growing list of coaching changes for a club that’s typically known for stability.

After the 2024 season, the Braves parted ways with longtime hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, assistant hitting coach Bobby Magallanes, and catching coach Sal Fasano. The decision to move on from Seitzer was especially notable, considering he helped engineer the offensive juggernaut that shattered records in 2023. In hindsight, maybe Seitzer wasn’t the problem in 2024 — given the results Tim Hyers has gotten out of the same core group so far in 2025.

But four coaches dismissed in eight months? That’s not business as usual for this franchise. These decisions validate what many fans have been feeling for over a year now: something just hasn’t felt right inside the clubhouse. The Braves front office clearly agrees.

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