The Atlanta Braves employed Walt Weiss as supervisor Monday, turning to their longtime bench coach in hopes of a turnaround after they missed the playoffs for the primary time in seven years.
Weiss, 61, managed the Colorado Rockies from 2013 to 2016, going 283-365 and by no means ending larger than third place. He inherits a proficient Braves crew that completed 76-86 and was ravaged by accidents.
Atlanta returns a powerful core led by former MVP Ronald Acuna Jr, first baseman Matt Olson, third baseman Austin Riley, future star catcher Drake Baldwin and a rotation that includes Chris Sale, Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach. Following a fourth-place end, Atlanta nonetheless may very well be among the many favorites within the Nationwide League East, with division champion Philadelphia taking a look at important adjustments over the winter, New York making an attempt to rebound from a late-season collapse and Miami nonetheless at the very least a yr away from competition.
Weiss emerged as the favourite to take over from Brian Snitker, who led Atlanta to its 2021 World Collection title and accepted a senior adviser position with the crew after the expiration of his contract following the 2025 season. Weiss joined Atlanta in 2018 as bench coach and had been Snitker’s consigliere since.
A 14-year main leaguer, Weiss was a glove-first shortstop who gained a World Collection with Oakland in 1989. The Braves will want a brand new shortstop for the 2026 season after Ha-Seong Kim opted out of his contract Monday.
A lot of Atlanta’s crew for subsequent season is already in place. Heart fielder Michael Harris II, left fielder Jurickson Profar and second baseman Ozzie Albies are slated to return, together with catcher Sean Murphy, who may very well be traded or break up time at catcher and designated hitter with Baldwin. Whereas Atlanta is flush with starting-pitching choices — younger right-handers Hurston Waldrep and AJ Smith-Shawver, together with right-handers Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder and left-hander Joey Wentz are candidates — its bullpen is a piece in progress, with nearer Raisel Iglesias headed to free company this winter.
In a busy offseason of managerial hirings, Weiss was the seventh new supervisor put in. San Diego and Colorado, which additionally wants a brand new head of baseball operations, are the lone groups remaining and not using a supervisor.