Braves Add Jeremy Hefner and Antoan Richardson to Weiss’ Coaching Staff

The Atlanta Braves continued reshaping their coaching infrastructure on Wednesday, announcing the additions of Jeremy Hefner as pitching coach and Antoan Richardson as first base coach to new manager Walt Weiss’ 2026 staff. The hires signal Atlanta’s commitment to combining experience with player development expertise as the club aims to rebound from a rare postseason absence.

Hefner, 39, joins the Braves after a six-year stint with the New York Mets, where he oversaw a pitching staff that produced six All-Star selections and consistently ranked among the league’s best in strikeout rate. Richardson, 42, arrives from the same organization, where he served as first base coach, outfield coordinator, and baserunning instructor, helping the Mets achieve one of the most efficient running games in baseball.

The coaching shake-up comes as Weiss assumes full managerial duties following his promotion from bench coach earlier this offseason. Atlanta’s decision to revamp its staff reflects a broader focus on addressing key weaknesses that hindered its 2025 campaign — particularly inconsistent pitching depth and a lagging defensive identity.

For an organization that has prided itself on sustained success, the blend of fresh leadership and technical acumen represents an intentional recalibration heading into the 2026 season.

1. Hefner Brings Track Record of Pitching Development

Jeremy Hefner arrives in Atlanta with a reputation for modern pitching strategy and player communication. During his tenure with the Mets, he guided multiple starters — including Jacob deGrom and Kodai Senga — through career-defining seasons, while also nurturing young arms through mechanical and analytical refinement. Despite the Mets’ playoff struggles in 2025, Hefner’s pitching units consistently remained competitive, posting a 4.02 team ERA, the sixth-best mark in the majors over his six-year term. Before his time in New York, Hefner worked in the Minnesota Twins organization, where he helped implement data-driven training systems and contributed to minor-league pitcher development programs. His approach blends traditional scouting insight with advanced analytics, emphasizing pitch design and sequencing as tools for maximizing talent. The Braves’ rotation, headlined by Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Spencer Schwellenbach, is one of the most gifted in baseball when healthy. However, frequent injuries and uneven bullpen performances plagued the team throughout 2025, highlighting the need for structural consistency and depth management — areas that fall squarely within Hefner’s expertise. By integrating Hefner’s analytical acumen with Weiss’ leadership philosophy, Atlanta hopes to recapture the steady pitching excellence that defined its early-decade dominance.

2. Richardson to Oversee Baserunning and Outfield Efficiency

Antoan Richardson’s addition adds another layer of tactical refinement to the Braves’ staff. A former major league outfielder and Bahamas native, Richardson has established himself as one of baseball’s most respected instructors in outfield positioning and baserunning precision. Over the past two seasons with the Mets, his units ranked among the league’s most efficient, leading MLB with an 89.1% stolen base success rate in 2025. Richardson’s experience also includes a five-year stretch in the San Francisco Giants system, where he worked closely with outfielders and young prospects on defensive fundamentals. His coaching philosophy emphasizes athleticism, anticipation, and in-game awareness — qualities Atlanta aims to enhance after finishing middle-of-the-pack in defensive metrics last season. As first base coach, Richardson will be responsible not only for guiding in-game base decisions but also for shaping a more aggressive, opportunistic offensive approach. With speed threats like Ronald Acuña Jr. and emerging contributors such as Michael Harris II, the Braves have the personnel to reclaim their edge on the basepaths. In joining Weiss’ staff, Richardson reunites with a leadership group focused on attention to detail, accountability, and communication — principles that have become hallmarks of the Braves’ organizational culture.

3. A Unified Vision for 2026

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The additions of Hefner and Richardson round out Weiss’ first coaching staff, signaling a renewed emphasis on discipline, data, and development. Both hires arrive with pedigrees built on maximizing player performance through targeted instruction and trust-based relationships — qualities that align with Weiss’ pragmatic managerial style. Atlanta enters the 2026 campaign with tempered expectations but high internal motivation. Following a fourth-place finish and a season marked by injuries, the franchise remains confident that its championship window is far from closed. The coaching overhaul reflects a broader strategy to balance veteran leadership with evolving player performance methodologies. While the Braves’ core — led by Acuña, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Sale — remains intact, the challenge now lies in refining the execution behind the talent. Weiss’ staff, anchored by Hefner’s analytical pitching insight and Richardson’s dynamic field instruction, represents the foundation of that next step. As spring training approaches, the Braves’ new direction feels less like a rebuild and more like a recalibration — a calculated effort to return to the consistency and competitiveness that have defined the franchise for much of the past decade.