MLB Rumors: Five replacements for Braves’ Fredi Gonzalez

5. Brian Snitker

Usually when a young team like Atlanta fires their manager, the first thing that they do is consider promoting one of their minor league managers. Brian Snitker currently manages Atlanta’s Triple A affiliate, the Gwinnett Braves. If Atlanta’s front office wants to stay in-house, there is likely no better option than Snitker.

Snitker is very familiar with most of Atlanta’s players, whether it be via his tenure as a minor league manager or his time as Atlanta’s third base coach. Despite having 19 seasons of experience as a manager, he has never gotten the chance to be a manager in MLB. Atlanta should be the team to give him a long overdue and well-deserved opportunity to show off his stuff at the major league level.

He has had success as a minor league manager, with a near .500 career record, and has won two championships with the Myrtle Beach Penguins in 1999 and 2000. He is also a former player, which should help him relate to the grind of playing baseball for a living. That should help him help his players more and help them grow to be better players. Snitker might be someone who keeps the seat warm until the team is ready to contend, but he could do a lot of positive things for Atlanta’s young players.

Next: 4. Bo Porter