Dirt fills the air as players slide to the bases. The audience’s eyes closely follow as balls snap off the bat and sail out of the park. The Braves Baseball Team are focused on winning the World Series with the help of their manager, Brian Snitker.
Snitker started his collegic career in 1975 as catcher for Lincoln Junior College before transferring to play the same position for the Braves minor league program for four years. While Snitker did not have much success as an active player on the Braves, he later went on to coach and manage the team to victory, doing so not only for the players but also for himself.
“I think that his experience in the sport along with the mastery of skills within the sport helps him know what can make an athlete successful. As a former athlete, he knows the history behind the team and what drives his players to be the best,” Avery Martin, junior, said.
Snitker has had much success while being a part of the Braves program, as he won several awards as their manager in past years. For instance, Snitker was awarded the National League (NL) Manager of the Year in 2018 and the Baseball America Major League Manager of the Year in 2020.
“I was always the guy, sitting in the chair in my living room, watching somebody else hoist a trophy. Never in my wildest dreams [did] I ever think that it’d be me up there,” Snitker said to Ball Sports after winning the World Series.
Although Snitker is not a player anymore, as he begins his 7th year managing, he is still a major part of the Braves family. Snitker has focused on coaching the team to be the best they can be, and he hit his success highlight in the 2021 season when the Braves won the World Series. He now hopes to lead them into another championship win for the 2023 season.
“I think it is really cool how Snitker is in the game and is willing to stand up for the players. The players this year seem more determined than ever to make it to the World Series, and I think Snitker is playing a big role in that,” Megan Busbee, senior, said.
As Snitker leads the Braves this season, one can watch them on channels including Bally Sports South, ESPN, FOX, FOX Sports 1, and TBS. Baseball fans can also go to Truist Park, the Braves stadium, to experience the excitement of the game in-person on Saturday Oct. 7, as Snitker leads them into their first round of the playoff games.
