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Fredi Gonzalez: Atlanta Braves’ Manager Receives 1 Year Extension

By Jonathan Savitske

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Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez received a one year extension with the club on Friday, with a club option for the 2017 season as well.

The extension by the Atlanta Braves also extends his coaching staff, which includes: Pitching Coach Roger McDowell, Hitting Coach Kevin Seitzer, Bullpen Coach and former Brave Eddie Perez, First Base Coach and 1991 NL MVP with the Braves Terry Pendleton, Third Base Coach Bo Porter, and Bench Coach Carlos Tosca. The Atlanta Braves have exceeded expectations thus far this season, staying competitive in a relatively weak division, while not possessing a potent offense and suffering key injuries.

-= Related: Fredi Gonzalez: Best Year As Atlanta Braves’ Manager? =-

A couple of weeks ago, I argued that the 2015 season was Fredi Gonzalez’s best so far as the manager of the Atlanta Braves, propelling his team of prospects and journeymen veterans into contention in a year when analysts speculated they would be one of the worst teams in the National League. The 2015 Atlanta Braves’ constructed lineup is similar to the teams Fredi Gonzalez managed while he was with the Florida Marlins: utilizing different lineups and situational matchups in a way that was advantageous to the team’s success.

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With Gonzalez and his staff being extended, it takes the pressure of the manager this season, and allows him and his staff to focus on developing the Atlanta Braves’ young core of players, both this season and next season. With young pitchers such as Matt Wisler, Manny Banuelos, and Mike Foltynewicz getting their first shot at the Major League level, it is important the Braves’ managerial staff can hone in on refining their performance, leading to future success.

With a bevy of young talent still in the Atlanta Braves’ Minor League system, extending Fredi Gonzalez will only benefit young players such as Mallex Smith, Tyrell Jenkins, and Jose Peraza when they are eventually promoted to the Big League club. Continuity is key during a rebuilding project, and Gonzalez has demonstrated this season that he can develop these young players into a future contender.

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Despite being maligned for much of his tenure as the manager of the Atlanta Braves, Fredi Gonzalez actually owns a winning record with the club, winning 634 games and losing 569. He led the Braves to an NL East Division Championship in 2013 as well as another playoff appearance in the 2012 Wild Card game.

Though Fredi Gonzalez’s teams have never met the lofty expectations placed upon them during his time in Atlanta, those clubs’ composition were not tailored to his managerial style and in turn set him up for failure. With his new extension, Gonzalez can prove to the Atlanta Braves front-office right that he is in fact the manager of the future.

The Atlanta Braves begin the second half of their season tonight against the Chicago Cubs with Julio Teheran toeing the rubber. First pitch is at 7:35 PM. 

Next: Atlanta Braves Host Cubs After All-Star Break

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