FILE – New Atlanta Braves Manager Walt Weiss. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard, File)
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves hired Walt Weiss on Monday as their manager, promoting from within for the successor to 2021 World Series winner Brian Snitker.
Weiss, who turns 62 on Nov. 28, has been the Braves’ bench coach since 2018 and was on Snitker’s staff four years ago when they won the fourth championship in franchise history. Snitker also was an internal hire, coming from Triple-A Gwinnett in 2016, when he replaced Fredi González midseason and then got the full-time job the following year.
This is Weiss’ second major league managing job after going 283-365 in four seasons with the Colorado Rockies from 2013-16. They did not make the playoffs during that time.
Weiss got back into a dugout when the Braves hired him in ’18. It was a return to Atlanta, where he finished his playing career as a shortstop with the Braves from 1998-2000, including an All-Star Game appearance as a starter during that stint.
A native of Tuxedo, New York, Weiss played parts of 14 seasons with Oakland, Florida, Colorado and Atlanta from 1987-2000. He won the World Series as a player with the Athletics in ’89.
Weiss previously worked for the Braves as a special assistant to the general manager from 2002-08.
Snitker, 70, announced in early October that he would not be returning for an 11th year with the club. GM Alex Anthopoulos said at the time that he did not have a list of candidates but wanted to move quickly to make a hire.
Former Braves catcher David Ross said last month he was ready to manage again and that getting the job “would be amazing.” It was not clear how seriously, if at all, Ross was considered for the job before Weiss was hired.
Weiss and Anthopoulos are scheduled to hold a joint news conference at Truist Park on Tuesday.
With Weiss’s promotion, only San Diego and Colorado remain uncertain about their managerial spots heading into the offseason. Texas hired Skip Schumaker, Baltimore went with Craig Albernaz, San Francisco pulled Tony Vitello from the college ranks, the Angels picked Kurt Suzuki, Minnesota chose Derek Shelton and Washington selected Blake Butera.
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