Brian Snitker’s time in Atlanta might be winding down. And if this truly is his final lap, it looks like the Atlanta Braves are already eyeing the next driver of the ship. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Skip Schumaker—yes, the same guy who led the Marlins to the playoffs in 2023 and won National League Manager of the Year—is expected to be a strong candidate for the Braves’ managerial job if Snitker steps aside.
This isn’t just speculation. Schumaker’s name is popping up for multiple big-league vacancies, including a potential shot with the Texas Rangers if Bruce Bochy decides to hang it up again.
Schumaker’s credentials? Let’s run them down. He took over a lifeless Marlins team in 2023, led them to an 84-78 record, and got them to the postseason—their first real one (non-COVID edition) since 2003, back when Josh Beckett and Pudge Rodriguez ruled Miami. Sure, they got swept by the Padres in the Wild Card round, but the turnaround was undeniable. A 15-game improvement in one season? That gets attention.
Now, the next year wasn’t so rosy—62-98 is a faceplant, no doubt. But Schumaker dealt with injuries, a thin roster, and off-the-field family priorities after the loss of his grandmother. He stepped away before the season’s end, and the Marlins voided his 2025 option. He’s now a free agent and very much available.
Walt Weiss: Braves In-House Contender
But hold up—it’s not just a Skip show. Walt Weiss, Atlanta’s current bench coach, is right there in the thick of this conversation. Weiss has deep roots with the team, having joined the Braves in 2017 and helped guide them to a World Series title in 2021. He also has four seasons of managerial experience under his belt with the Colorado Rockies from 2013 to 2016.
Remember, the Marlins wanted Weiss back in 2022 before hiring Schumaker. He declined, choosing loyalty to Atlanta. That decision may end up positioning him perfectly as a natural, familiar successor to Snitker—especially for a roster that might need a steady hand during a transition period.
A Changing of the Guard?
No matter who ends up in the manager’s seat next spring, here’s the bottom line: change is coming to Atlanta. This season has taken a sharp detour from expectations, and the front office is signaling that both the coaching staff and roster could look very different next year.
Sure, the big names—Acuña, Riley, Strider—aren’t going anywhere. But pieces are going to move. Veterans might be shipped out. A new voice might be needed in the clubhouse. And whether that’s a guy like Schumaker, fresh off a managerial award and hungry for a bounce-back, or Weiss, the seasoned lieutenant with clubhouse equity, the Braves are thinking long-term.
