Braves’ Brian Snitker, Chipper Jones Spotted With NL Manager of the Year — Meeting Sparks Managerial Buzz in Atlanta
After one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory, the Atlanta Braves suddenly find themselves at a crossroads — and a recent sighting involving Brian Snitker, Chipper Jones, and David Ross has sent speculation into overdrive about who could lead the team next.
The 2025 season began with World Series aspirations but ended in turmoil. By mid-summer, the Braves had fallen out of contention entirely, finishing among the league’s worst teams after June — a collapse few saw coming.
Because of that downturn, longtime manager Brian Snitker was widely expected to step down, closing the chapter on one of the most successful managerial tenures in modern Braves history.
“Because of that consistent recent success, Snit would normally be afforded a ‘mulligan’ year—even though going from the second-best preseason World Series odds to possibly the third-best odds of winning the draft lottery is a pretty serious mulligan,” Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote. “At 69, though, he’s already the oldest manager in the National League by several years and was likely to retire at the end of this season, which is the last one in his current contract.”
Shortly after the final game, the inevitable became official.
“Brian Snitker will not return as manager of the Atlanta Braves,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported. “He informed the team of his decision yesterday but will remain with the organization in a senior advisory capacity.”
A Curious Meeting Raises Eyebrows
Just days later, intrigue deepened when WSB-TV’s Alison Mastrangelo reported an interesting encounter at a local event.
“I ran into Brian Snitker at the game with his wife, Ronnie,” Mastrangelo shared. “The part that sparks some intrigue is that he was also there with Braves legend Chipper Jones and former catcher David Ross.”
According to Steven Teal of HTHB, both Jones and Ross maintain influence within the Braves’ baseball operations — and the meeting may not have been coincidental.
“They both have some say in things within the front office, and they could be talking with Ross about taking over the role next year,” Teal wrote.
That possibility has quickly gained traction across the league.
David Ross Emerges as the Favorite
Ross, a two-time World Series champion and 2020 NL Manager of the Year, has a history with the Braves organization and maintains deep ties to Atlanta’s leadership circle. His experience managing a big-market team like the Chicago Cubs, combined with his championship pedigree as a player, makes him an appealing candidate to usher in the Braves’ next era.
If the meeting between Snitker, Jones, and Ross was indeed related to the managerial position, it could mark the strongest indication yet that Ross is the front-runner to succeed Snitker.
A Defining Moment for the Braves’ Future
For Atlanta, the next hire will shape the identity of the franchise moving forward. The team cannot afford another misstep — or another lost season — in an increasingly competitive National League.
As one team insider told The Sporting News:
“They need a leader who understands Atlanta’s culture but can also inject fresh energy. Ross checks both boxes.”
Whether coincidence or calculated transition, the sight of Snitker, Jones, and Ross together may have signaled the start of something significant — the dawn of a new era in Braves baseball.
