Braves’ Former Slugger Offers 2-Word Response On Altercation With Manager

The Atlanta Braves saw a six-game winning streak snapped by the division rival Washington Nationals on Tuesday, but it didn’t do much to spoil a surprisingly strong start to the season.

As the National League East rival Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets endure marked losing streaks, the Braves have emerged as the clear front runner in the division thanks to a resilient pitching staff, a potent batting order and a hot start from rookie skipper Walt Weiss.

“Most everything has gone right for the Braves,” Mark Bowman wrote for MLB.com. “The Braves lead MLB in runs scored (122) and ERA (2.66). Weiss’ first three weeks as the team’s skipper have gone as well as anyone could have expected.”

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Though Weiss is in his first year managing the Braves, he spent the previous eight seasons as the team’s bench coach with legendary skipper Brian Snitker at the helm. Perhaps that experience can explain how Weiss has been able to enjoy such a successful transition to start this season.

But it seems like Weiss’ dedication to players, current and former, on a personal level is also a standout quality that can explain the success.

“But according to another of Weiss’ former players with the Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, his defining quality, the one that could make him a great manager, is how much he cares about others,” Ken Rosenthal wrote for The Athletic. “Three new members of the Braves noticed that in Weiss immediately.”

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Weiss’ affection for players he has previously worked with might have also played a role in an apparently hostile interaction with a former slugger who left the team years ago.

Earlier this month, during a game against the Los Angeles Angels, Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez got into a physical altercation with Angels slugger Jorge Soler on the field. As the benches cleared and the players were separated, Weiss turned heads by tackling Soler to the ground.

That moment not only demonstrated Weiss’ dedication to protecting his current players, but the aftermath revealed just how deep his ties go with former players, as Soler, who played for the Braves in part of the 2021 season, offered a surprising two-word take on the interaction.

“We’re friends,” Soler told Rosenthal after Weiss tackled him on the field. “I think he was trying to protect me.”

Among the surprises Weiss is driving so far this season, perhaps the Braves’ strong record ranks behind that reaction from the team’s former slugger after a heated altercation on the field.