Braves' season of frustration ends; now they must find a new manager

By Micaiah Streator | Sports writer

ATLANTA—The MLB playoffs have begun, and one team is notably missing: The Atlanta Braves.

Due to a rash of injuries to key players, the Atlanta Braves 2025 season will be remembered for its potential, which was high. However, since most of those key injuries were to starting pitchers, another a championship banner will not be raised at Truist Park.

Yes, the season can be highlighted by promise and frustration, not because it was perfect—far from it. The Braves went 76–86, ended up with one of those records that journalists can't help but look at again, but fans try to forget.

This year you were more likely to question "what if?" than "remember when?”

Neither a Ronald Acuña Jr. moonshot or a Michael Harris II diving catch stemmed the greatest cheer of the year. Braves pitcher Charlie Morton walked off the mound for lthe final time on the last day of the regular season, Sunday, Sept. 29.

Braves Nation sprang to their feet to applaud the 41-year-old in his last outing. I had the chance to watch Morton pitch live at Truist Park. Seeing his celebration made the event feel more intimate.

Morton was dependable, professional and gave a team legitimacy in any clubhouse he was part of, He was never the ace in Atlanta but he was a face all fans new. For about of his stint in Baltimore this season, his patented curveball was as good as ever. However, for the other half of the time with the Orioles and at the end with the Detroit Tigers (who advanced in the first round of the American League playoffs without him), Morton’s stuff was just not good enough anymore.

Even though the season surrounding Morton’s ovation wasn't great, if that was his finale—and, overall, it was a decent season and an outstanding career.

The Braves are most recognized for Acuña’s exploits (and injuries) and the supporting cast over the past few seasons. However, that changed in 2025. With 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, Harris entered the exclusive "20-20" club. Though Harris’ 20-20 is not on the same level as the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani or the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, it’s one to be proud of. In addition to being able to follow Acuña in the lineup, Harris provided the Braves with another piece of offense they can count on.

Ozzie Albies’ broken hamate bone in his left hand is a marker of the Braves’ year. For stretches, the Braves' offense looked normal. Injuries ate up the roster right as the team was trying to find consistency. Albies’ spark was missed, and while others stepped up in moments, there was a sense that Atlanta never had its full deck to play with.

Brian Snitker needs his plaudits as he accomplished 800 wins as the Braves’ manager. That put him next to Bobby Cox and Frank Selee, big Braves’ names in the franchise’s long history. Snitker’s calm demeanor kept the Braves on an even keel for just about a decade. He did not have the flash of a young, analytics-driven manager or the theatrics of an old-school skipper, but the results spoke volumes,

Now he will move into an advisory position in the front office, and the Braves are in the market for a field manager.

Still, Snitker’s impact on the Braves is undeniable. The Braves mocked supporters with streaks; their 10 consecutive victories in late September had you wondering if they still had it in them. Unfortunately, they cooled down as fast as they set fire, losing two of the last three to the Pirates at Truist Park.

The season can be split into two captures: two terrible weeks there, three fantastic weeks here. As a result, you become 76–86, passable for hanging around but not worthy of banner hanging.

The pitching rotation was a major part of the issue. Spencer Strider is still the flamethrower every fan wants on the mound, but he can’t do it alone. Depth was shaky. Injuries to key arms left our bullpen overworked and exposed. Raisel Iglesias did what he could, but the pen often felt like a second string line up, no shade thrown. One highlight was the pitching of Hurston Waldrep, who went 6-1 with a 2.88 earned-run average.

Although it may have been the year before the year, this wasn't the Braves' year. Acuña's ongoing success, Matt Olson's solid play at first, Harris' development and promise of new youthful arms, especially Waldrep’s, all point to a foundation. Atlanta acquired clarity where they were lacking consistency.

The one standout in the season was Drake Baldwin, who has a very strong chance of being the National League rookie of the year. The Braves’ catcher finished with 19 home runs and 80 runs batted in. In large stretches of the season when Atlanta floundered, Baldwin was the one player to give Braves’ radio play-by-play announcer Ben Ingram’s voice excitement.

The Braves are now aware of who should and shouldn't be included in the long-term plan. It's fair to say the Braves are unsure about the future, but this club knows how to finish. It was proved by the memories we all share from the 2021 World Series.

Baseball seasons are lengthy tales. The nasty middle chapters are sometimes necessary before the story takes a different turn.

Next season should be very different.

Note: At the top of the page, Truist Park hosted Hank Aaron Night in April 2024.

Contact Micaiah Streator at MSTREATOR@augusta.edu.