The Atlanta Braves have announced the hiring of two former coaches from the New York Mets, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and first-base coach Antoan Richardson, as part of new manager Walt Weiss‘s coaching staff. The announcement came on March 15, 2024, as the Braves continue to finalize their coaching lineup for the upcoming season.
Jeremy Hefner, 39, brings a wealth of experience to the Braves after spending the last six years as the Mets’ pitching coach. Under his guidance, the Mets achieved the sixth-best earned run average (ERA) in Major League Baseball at 4.02. Hefner will take over for Rick Kranitz, who had served as the Braves’ pitching coach for seven seasons. Kranitz, 67, along with first-base coach Tom Goodwin and third-base coach Fredi González, were informed that they would not be retained as part of the coaching staff moving forward.
Richardson, 42, previously held the position of first-base coach for the Mets for two seasons, where he also contributed as an outfield coordinator and baserunning instructor. His work in the latter role was particularly notable, as the Mets led MLB in stolen-base success rate during the 2025 season, achieving an impressive 89.1 percent success rate. With the Braves, Richardson will continue to oversee baserunning and outfield coordination duties.
The decision to hire Hefner was unexpected, as he was considered a priority for the Mets’ front office to retain. During his tenure, Mets pitchers recorded the fourth-fewest hits allowed in the majors and tallied the sixth-most strikeouts. Notably, six Mets pitchers achieved All-Star selections while Hefner was with the team.
Hefner, originally from Oklahoma, made his Major League Baseball debut in 2012 with the Mets after being drafted in the fifth round by the San Diego Padres in 2007. He pitched in 50 games, starting 36, and finished with a career ERA of 4.65 over two seasons.
Richardson expressed interest in remaining with the Mets but could not reach an agreement with the team. He explored opportunities with other organizations before finalizing his deal with the Braves.
The Braves’ decisions mark a significant shift in their coaching strategy as they look to build a competitive team under Weiss, who has transitioned from bench coach to manager. Weiss, who spent eight seasons as bench coach under former manager Brian Snitker, aims to bring a fresh perspective to the Braves’ coaching staff as they prepare for the upcoming season.
As the Braves finalize the remainder of their coaching staff, the addition of Hefner and Richardson signals a commitment to enhancing their performance and competitiveness in the league.
