The Atlanta Braves made a surprising coaching move ahead of their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, announcing the reassignment of Matt Tuiasosopo from his role as third base coach. While the decision to move on from Tuiasosopo wasn’t entirely unexpected—especially given some questionable decisions on the basepaths that contributed to recent losses—the choice of his replacement certainly caught fans off guard.
Fredi González, the former Braves manager who was let go midway through the 2016 season, is returning to the dugout as the new third base coach. González previously managed the Braves for six seasons, compiling a 434–413 record before being dismissed during a disappointing 9–28 start in 2016. Ironically, he was succeeded by Brian Snitker, who remains the team’s manager to this day.
Though González has past experience as a third base coach—including a previous stint in Atlanta before managing the then-Florida Marlins—his return to the Braves was far from expected, given how his managerial tenure ended.
Tuiasosopo’s demotion comes after a string of aggressive sends that backfired at crucial moments. While some of his decisions stemmed from an effort to spark an inconsistent offense, the Braves can’t afford preventable outs on the bases with their current struggles to generate runs.
Midseason coaching changes of this nature are rare, but many agree the move was necessary. Still, González’s appointment is raising eyebrows. His familiarity with the organization and his longstanding ties to Snitker suggest this might be more about loyalty and trust than shaking things up with fresh leadership.
Ultimately, this move may reflect Snitker’s desire to surround himself with people he knows and trusts—further signaling that, despite fan frustration, Snitker’s job remains secure for now.
