Durham, N.C. – Former New Orleans Privateers baseball student-athlete, Brian Snitker was named Baseball America's 2020 Manager of the Year on Tuesday.
Snitker guided the Atlanta Braves to a 35-25 record and a third consecutive division title during an abbreviated 2020 season. The Braves made it to the NLCS after sweeping through their first two opponents in Cincinnati and Miami.
The feat was even more impressive considering at one point, Atlanta was down their entire projected Opening Day rotation. The Braves used 14 different starters in a 60-game season. They also had to deal with in-season injuries to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies.
Snitker also managed the Braves' first league MVP since 1999 (Chipper Jones) when Freddie Freeman earned the award.
In his last three years, Snitker has amassed a winning percentage of .578. Overall, Snitker has won 353 games since taking over during the 2016 season. This is also his second Manager of the Year award. Snitker won Baseball Writers Association National League Manager of the Year after the 2018 season.
Snitker, a former student-athlete under Ron Maestri at UNO, was named one of the program's Top 50 players. He played for two seasons on the Lakefront (1976-77). He was part of teams that had an overall record of 61-23-1.
