Brian Snitker barely had time to digest the finality of the 2024 season when the Braves manager was asked if he plans to be back with Atlanta in 2025.
With a wild-card sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres completed, Snitker confirmed he’s ready to pack his bags— for spring training.
Without a doubt,” Snitker said to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Justin Toscano. “To be honest, I wish spring training had begun tomorrow. That’s what I told the boys. I am eager to be at camp and hopefully find our guys whole once more. And to be really honest, I’m going to be more eager to go there next year than I have ever been. I mentioned that although I was tired, I really wanted to go ahead and arrive tomorrow. I also mean business. I can’t wait to get there with our boys and do this again.
After a 101-win season in 2021, Snitker signed a three-year contract extension that expires after the 2025 season. He turns 69 later this month.
The Braves needed a win in one of the final two games of the regular season, which turned out to be a doubleheader on Monday, to secure a playoff spot. Before getting the job done in the second game of Monday’s twin bill with the New York Mets, injuries hit Atlanta again, extending a theme of the season. All-Star left-hander Chris Sale was scratched from his scheduled start and left off the wild-card roster with a back injury.
Coming off of another 104-win season in 2023, most of the Braves’ top players had at least one visit to the injured list. Reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. (ACL) and ace Spencer Strider (UCL surgery) were relegated to rehabilitation from season-ending injuries and aren’t guaranteed to be field-ready when Snitker gets to Florida for spring training.
Acuna was lost for the season in May and had ACL surgery for the second time.
Strider went 20-5 with 281 strikeouts, leading MLB in both categories, in 2023. He had surgery on April 13 and it’s unclear if he will start the 2025 season on the injured list.
Even without them, the Braves managed to win 89 games and Snitker said he’s never been more proud of any team in the face of injuries and adversity.
Not a justification “Snitker stated. “As I have stated, everyone has hardships before arriving. For everyone of the thirty of us on the team, navigating seven months is difficult.
“It’s the sheer perseverance, motivation, reliability, work ethic, and how these guys never complained about anything, no matter what these guys went through. They simply carried on playing. They persisted in their game. They continued their task. The fervour never subsided. Their outlook has never wavered.”
