ATLANTA, GA — The Atlanta Braves clubhouse, bruised by a disappointing 2025 season that saw a managerial change, is indeed getting a vital dose of its most beloved and trusted voice. Hall of Famer Chipper Jones is taking a more prominent, high-profile role within the organization, though his return is centered around support and hitting expertise, not the manager’s seat.
While Jones had already been serving as a part-time hitting consultant since 2021, his visible and vocal involvement this offseason signals a deeper commitment to the team’s recovery and the new regime.
The New Role: Endorsing and Mentoring
Jones’s influence and presence are being felt immediately, particularly following the hiring of new manager Walt Weiss, Jones’s former teammate in Atlanta.
- Managerial Endorsement: Jones was one of the first and most enthusiastic endorsers of the decision to promote Weiss from bench coach, stating that Weiss offers “instant street cred” and is a figure the players “trust from day one” due to their shared history.
- The “Coach” Role: While Jones has consistently stated he has no desire to manage due to family time commitments and a dislike for the media scrutiny, he has repeatedly expressed confidence that he could be a “very good hitting coach.”
- Increased Involvement: His attendance at Weiss’s introductory press conference and his strong public statements suggest he is ready to increase his involvement with the team, particularly in a behind-the-scenes mentoring role focused on hitting mechanics and approach, where the team saw lapses in 2025.
Chipper’s Perspective: “I think this is the right fit for this team. They’ve all bled baseball together, and everybody trusts Walt, knows that he has their back, and that’s pretty important to the guys inside that clubhouse.”
The Healing Presence
The narrative of Jones returning to a “fractured” clubhouse stems from the need for a stabilizing presence after the Braves’ disappointing season and the departure of manager Brian Snitker. Jones represents the “Braves Way”—a symbol of championship success, accountability, and organizational loyalty.
His presence, especially with the influx of new coaches like third-base coach Tony Mansolino and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, acts as a bridge between the organization’s historic success and its future aspirations. By working closely with hitters, he carries the weight of “healing” the offense and restoring the confidence that faltered late in 2025.
Chipper Jones’s focus will be on the offense, a necessary move following the Braves’ decline. Would you like to know which specific advanced hitting metrics Chipper Jones’s philosophy (contact, switch-hitting approach) might aim to improve for key players like Austin Riley and Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2026?
