The Atlanta Braves did not have to look far to find their replacement for manager Brian Snitker. They tabbed the man who occupied the seat next to Snitker in the dugout for eight seasons.
The Braves named Walt Weiss as their manager on Monday. He served as the club’s bench coach from 2018-25 and earned a World Series ring when Atlanta defeated the Houston Astros in 2021. Snitker’s contract expired after the 2025 season and he will transition to a senior advisory role with the club.
Weiss becomes the 49th manager in the franchise’s 150-season existence.
Weiss, 61, brings managerial experience to the job. He compiled a record of 283-365 serving as the Colorado Rockies’ bench boss from 2013-16. He stepped down after his best record, 75-87, following the 2016 campaign.
A native of Tuxedo, N.Y., Weiss played shortstop for four clubs over 14 seasons. He earned American League Rookie of the Year honors in 1988 for the Oakland Athletics and started seven of Oakland’s eight postseason games when they won the World Series one year later.
Weiss spent six seasons in Oakland before playing for the Miami Marlins (1993), Rockies (1994-97) and Braves (1998-2000).
Weiss was the first player to compete for both 1993 expansion teams (Marlins, Rockies). He made the National League All-Star team during his first year in Atlanta.
Weiss, a switch-hitter known for his glove work, completed his career with a .258 batting average, 25 homers, 96 stolen bases, 658 walks and 658 strikeouts. He retired after the 2000 season in Atlanta.
The Braves (76-86) finished fourth in the National League East in 2025 — 20 games behind first-place Philadelphia — to snap a streak of seven straight postseason berths. It marked the team’s worst season since a last-place finish in 2016.
