Brian Snitker

Brian Gerald Snitker

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 192 lb.
• School University of New Orleans
• High School Macon (IL) High School

• Born October 17, 1955 in Decatur, IL USA

BR Manager page

Biographical Information

Snitker with MLB umpires and an Army soldier in 2007

Brian Snitker has been affiliated with the Atlanta Braves for 40 years. A catcher, he played in the team's farm system from 1977 to 1980. After retiring as a player, he was a longtime coach and manager in the Braves organization. He was also the Braves bullpen coach in 1985 and again from 1988 to 1990. In 1991 he returned to the minors as a coach with the Macon Braves. He managed Macon in 1992 before moving back to the coaching ranks with the Greenville Braves for the 1993 and 1994 seasons. Snitker was named Atlanta's third base coach beginning in 2007 season. He held the position until the 2013 season, then was succeeded by Doug Dascenzo.

After managing the Braves' AAA affiliate, the Gwinnett Braves, starting in 2014, he was appointed interim manager of the major league Braves on May 17, 2016, following the firing of Fredi Gonzalez. On October 11th the interim label was removed, the result of the Braves playing quite well under Snitker in the second half of the season. At age 61 at the start of the 2017 season, he was the 5th-oldest rookie manager in major league history. The Braves had a so-so season as they continued their rebuilding that year, but in 2018 confounded everyone by breaking through for a division title. Snitker received considerable praise for his excellent work in working numerous young players into the starting line-up and turning the Braves into contenders well ahead of schedule and he was voted the National League Manager of the Year in recognition of his good work.

His son Troy Snitker has been a minor league player and a major league coach.

Notable Achievements

• NL Manager of the Year Award (2018)
• Division Titles: 2 (2018 & 2019)

Preceded by Fredi Gonzalez

Atlanta Braves Manager 2016-

Succeeded by current

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1982	Anderson Braves	South Atlantic League	72-70	5th	Atlanta Braves
1983	Durham Bulls	Carolina League	59-78	6th	Atlanta Braves
1984	Durham Bulls	Carolina League	68-72	5th	Atlanta Braves	Lost League Finals
1986	Sumter Braves	South Atlantic League	77-60	3rd	Atlanta Braves
1987	Durham Bulls	Carolina League	65-75	7th	Atlanta Braves
1992	Macon Braves	South Atlantic League	58-81	13th	Atlanta Braves
1996	Danville Braves	Appalachian League	37-29	5th	Atlanta Braves
1997	Macon Braves	South Atlantic League	80-60	1st	Atlanta Braves	Lost in 2nd round
1998	Macon Braves	South Atlantic League	69-72	8th	Atlanta Braves	Lost in 1st round
1999	Myrtle Beach Pelicans	Carolina League	79-60	2nd	Atlanta Braves	Co-Champs
2000	Myrtle Beach Pelicans	Carolina League	88-52	1st	Atlanta Braves	League Champs
2001	Myrtle Beach Pelicans	Carolina League	71-67	3rd	Atlanta Braves
2002	Greenville Braves	Southern League	65-69	7th	Atlanta Braves
2003	Greenville Braves	Southern League	68-70	5th	Atlanta Braves
2004	Greenville Braves	Southern League	63-76	9th	Atlanta Braves
2005	Mississippi Braves	Southern League	64-68	6th	Atlanta Braves
2006	Richmond Braves	International League	57-86	14th	Atlanta Braves
2014	Gwinnett Braves	International League	65-77	12th	Atlanta Braves
2015	Gwinnett Braves	International League	77-67	5th (t)	Atlanta Braves
2016	Gwinnett Braves	International League	19-20	--	Atlanta Braves		replaced by John Moses on May 17
	Atlanta Braves	National League	59-65	5th	Atlanta Braves		replaced Fredi Gonzalez (9-28) on May 17
2017	Atlanta Braves	National League	72-90	3rd	Atlanta Braves
2018	Atlanta Braves	National League	90-72	1st	Atlanta Braves	Lost NLDS
2019	Atlanta Braves	National League	97-65	1st	Atlanta Braves	Lost NLDS

Further Reading

• Associated Press: "At 61, 'late-bloomer' Snitker savors shot as Braves manager", USA Today Sports, February 20, 2017. [1]
• Anthony Castrovince: "Melvin wins 3rd Manager Award, Snitker his first", mlb.com, November 13, 2018. [2]
• Gabe Lacques: "As MLB managers get younger, baseball lifers feel squeeze: 'I might be one of the last'", USA Today Sports, March 8, 2018. [3]
• Howard Megdal: "Braves manager Brian Snitker has simple mantra after 4 decades: 'Enjoy every day'", USA Today Sports, June 23, 2016. [4]
• Bob Nightengale: "Brian Snitker has young Braves poised for return to glory years", USA Today, September 23, 2018. [5]

Related Sites

• BR Minors page