The Atlanta Braves are in the midst of a slump so bad that they did the unthinkable…they made a coaching change in the middle of the season. The team announced this afternoon that Matt Tuiasosopo has accepted a position as a minor league infield coordinator. In Tuiasosopo’s place, the Braves hired former manager Fredi González to serve as the team’s new third base coach.
The coaching shake-up comes as a bit of a surprise, especially when it’s Fredi González who they’re turning to. González last coached in the big leagues in 2024 when he was the bench coach for the Baltimore Orioles. González was also the manager for Atlanta from 2011-2016 until he was fired mid-season and replaced by current manager Brian Snitker.
Baserunning issues lead to Braves making change in third base coaching role
Scoring runs have been a serious problem for the Braves this season, but Matt Tuiasosopo’s terrible sends were costing Atlanta dearly. Plenty of plays at the plate has seen Braves baserunners thrown out by a mile. This was Tuiasosopo’s first season as a major league third base coach, and it became clear very quickly that his decisions weren’t up to big league coaching standards.
Injuries are piling up and the team seems to lack a spark, but hopefully this coaching change can get the team going in the right direction. The Braves seem to play in a close game every single night, so throwing away runs at the plate isn’t something the team can afford. González has at least done a serviceable job in the third base coaching box before.
Atlanta opens up a series with the reeling Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday at Truist Park, in what is hopefully a string of games the Braves can get rolling in. Should Atlanta continue to sputter throughout the summer, don’t be shocked if the front office has more coaching changes up their sleeve.
