The Atlanta Braves are currently in such a deep slump that they’ve taken the rare step of making a midseason coaching change. The team announced this afternoon that Matt Tuiasosopo has accepted a new role as a minor league infield coordinator. Replacing him as third base coach is former Braves manager Fredi González.
The decision to shake up the coaching staff is somewhat unexpected—especially with the team bringing back González. He last worked in the majors in 2024 as the Baltimore Orioles’ bench coach. Braves fans will remember González as the team’s manager from 2011 until his dismissal in 2016, when current manager Brian Snitker took over.
One major reason for the move has been the Braves’ poor baserunning. Scoring runs has been a challenge all season, and Tuiasosopo’s questionable sends at third base have only made matters worse—resulting in several runners being easily thrown out at home. This was Tuiasosopo’s first stint as a big league third base coach, and it quickly became apparent that his decision-making wasn’t at a major league level.
With injuries mounting and the team struggling to find momentum, the Braves are hoping this coaching switch can spark a turnaround. They’ve been in tight games almost every night, so they can’t afford to give away runs on the basepaths. González, at the very least, brings experience and has previously handled third base duties capably.
Atlanta begins a new series at Truist Park on Tuesday against the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks—an opportunity for the Braves to get back on track. However, if the team continues to falter through the summer, don’t be surprised if more changes come from the front office.
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