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MLB

Snitker becomes first former Pelicans skipper to manage in the Major Leagues

First skipper in Pelicans history takes over as Braves' interim manager
By Scott Kornberg
May 17, 2016

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (May 17, 2016) - In lieu of firing manager Fredi Gonzalez Monday, the Atlanta Braves announced that former Myrtle Beach Pelicans skipper Brian Snitker was named as the club's interim manager. Snitker will be the first former Birds skipper to manage in Major League Baseball.

Snitker, 60, was the first manager in the history of the Pelicans, guiding the club to a 238-179 (.571) record in three seasons from 1999-2001. He led Myrtle Beach to the Mills Cup Co-Championship in 1999 before winning it all solely in 2000. In each of those two seasons, he was named the Carolina League's Manager of the Year.

The Decatur, Ill. native was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 25th round in the 1976 draft out of the University of New Orleans. Snitker played four minor league seasons, all in the Braves' organization, from 1977-80, batting a combined .254/.316/.390 and reaching as high as Triple-A. He spent two separate stints in the Carolina League, appearing in 14 games with Kinston in 1978 and three contests with Durham in 1980. He became a minor league manager for the first time in 1982, piloting Low-A Anderson in the South Atlantic League.

Snitker takes over a Braves club with the very worst record in the majors at 9-28 (.243). He began the 2016 campaign, his 20th as a minor league manager, at the helm of the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves, steering them to a 19-20 (.487) mark, good for second in the International League South Division. In addition to managing in the minors, Snitker has also served in various roles in the Braves' organization, including the club's big league bullpen coach and third base coach.

Snitker's son Troy was selected by Atlanta in the 19th round of the 2011 draft out of North George College and State University. He played parts of two seasons with the organization, including one game with the Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats in 2012.

The 2016 season is the 18th season for the Pelicans franchise and second as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2016, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

ABOUT THE PELICANS: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play their home games at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The park has ranked in the top eight in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in each of the last five seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences in all of sports in each of the last five years and the best in the Carolina League for five straight seasons as well. In May 2015, TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark won the 2015 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. The Pelicans are the defending Mills Cup Champions, winning the title in 2015 as well as 2000 and co-Mills Cup championship honors in the inaugural 1999 season. The Pelicans have made nine postseason appearances behind 11 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season, as well as five Southern Division titles, most recently in 2015. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or emailing [email protected].