South Gwinnett News

A member of the Atlanta Braves organization since he was barely old enough to legally consume alcohol, manager Brian Snitker has seen it all as a player, a coach, and ultimately, a World Series-winning manager.

Leading the only MLB franchise he’s worked for to baseball’s Holy Grail last month is arguably a full-circle moment for Snitker, whose association with the Braves began in 1977 when signed a free-agent contract.

Just don’t count on him being fine with just one title.

MLB.com reported that the Braves exercised the 2024 option for Snitker, who became a manager for the first time at age 60.

"He means so much to this organization," Freddie Freeman told ESPN moments after Atlanta defeated the Houston Astros in Game 6 of the 2021 Fall Classic. "He's put on every hat there is in this organization."

The only MLB manager to win a division title each of the past four seasons since taking over for the terminated Fredi Gonzalez, Snitker won National League Manager of the Year honors in 2018.

Snitker joined Bobby Cox as the only managers to lead the Braves to World Series glory since the team moved to Georgia’s state capital and largest city from Milwaukee in 1966, according to the Braves release.

Having compiled a record of 441-390 in six seasons, Snitker trails the legendary Cox as the team’s second-winningest manager.

The Braves team that Snitker lead to the Promised Land wasn’t given much of a chance when the 2021 postseason began.

Aside from losing star Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta’s paltry 88-74 record didn’t garner confidence from anyone outside of Georgia.

Then, they sent the Milwaukee Brewers packing in the NL Division Series.

In the NL Championship Series, revenge was exacted on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

And on baseball’s biggest stage, the Braves played on their strengths and capitalized on Houston’s miscues to win their second World Series title since 1995.