Brian Snitker barely had time to reflect on the conclusion of the 2024 season when he was asked about his plans for 2025 with the Braves. Following a wild-card sweep by the San Diego Padres, Snitker expressed his eagerness to head to spring training.
“Absolutely,” he affirmed. “Honestly, I wish spring training started tomorrow. I just told the guys that. I’m really looking forward to camp and hopefully having our team healthy again. I’m probably more excited about it than I’ve ever been. I feel exhausted, but I genuinely wish we could fast-forward to tomorrow. I can’t wait to get back with our guys and do this all over again.”
After leading the team to 101 wins in 2021, Snitker signed a three-year extension that runs through the end of the 2025 season. He will turn 69 later this month.
The Braves needed a win in one of their final two regular-season games—a doubleheader against the New York Mets—to secure a playoff spot. They managed to clinch it in the second game, but injuries continued to plague the team, a recurring issue this season. All-Star left-hander Chris Sale was sidelined with a back injury and was left off the wild-card roster.
Despite finishing the 2023 season with 104 wins, many key players had stints on the injured list. Reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. (ACL injury) and ace pitcher Spencer Strider (UCL surgery) were both in rehabilitation and uncertain for the start of spring training.
Acuña was lost for the season in May after undergoing his second ACL surgery, while Strider, who posted a 20-5 record and led MLB with 281 strikeouts in 2023, had surgery on April 13. It’s unclear whether he will be ready for the 2025 season.
Despite these setbacks, the Braves still achieved 89 wins, and Snitker expressed immense pride in his team’s resilience amid challenges.
“This isn’t an excuse,” he said. “Every team goes through difficulties. Navigating seven months is tough for all of us, all 30 teams.
“The tenacity, drive, consistency, and work ethic displayed by these guys—despite everything they faced—was remarkable. Nobody wallowed in self-pity or complained. They just kept playing and working hard. Their energy and attitude never faltered.”
