Braves legend Andruw Jones is a top candidate to make the Hall of Fame this year.
Brian Snitker’s tenure with the Atlanta Braves is one of the most remarkable long-term success stories in modern baseball. A member of the organization since 1977, Snitker worked his way through the minor-league system as a player, coach and manager before finally earning the big-league role in 2016.
His deep organizational knowledge and steady leadership helped guide Atlanta through a rebuilding phase and into a new era of success, highlighted by six straight NL East titles from 2018–2023 and a World Series championship in 2021. Twice named NL Manager of the Year, Snitker has become synonymous with the Braves’ culture of continuity and trust.
That loyalty to the franchise also extends to his players, and few embody Braves history more than Andruw Jones. Jones debuted in 1996 at just 19 years old and immediately made history by homering twice in his first World Series game.
Over the next decade, he became the centerpiece of Atlanta’s dynasty, combining elite defense with consistent offensive production. He won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves, hit 368 home runs with the Braves and delivered one of the greatest offensive seasons in franchise history in 2005 when he blasted 51 home runs and finished second in MVP voting.
Snitker has been vocal about Jones’ Hall of Fame candidacy, pointing to both his durability and production.
“Look at that baseball card. I mean, I do that every now and then I'll pull it up and I'm like, my God, what everything that this guy did. And if that's not Hall of Fame numbers, then I don’t know what is," Snitker said on an MLB Network Radio appearance.
He continued, “I remember Andruw, when he was coming up and he was playing all those games through that 14-year run. I mean, he was one of those guys who played every inning of every game. He didn’t come out in the blowouts. He played every day and posted up numbers. I’m just hoping and praying that this is his year because, like I say, all you got to do is turn that baseball card over and you see a Hall of Famer.”
Jones’ impact extended beyond statistics. While his career declined after leaving Atlanta, his decade-long dominance remains undeniable.
For Snitker and many around the game, Jones’ combination of defense, power and durability makes him one of the greatest outfielders of his generation — and a player deserving of a plaque in Cooperstown.