Ron Washington on Braves: “The winner in those guys is still there”

The Braves are saying goodbye to several members of their staff this offseason, none more notable than former third base coach Ron Washington.

The 71-year-old is now a manager again, as the Los Angeles Angels hired him to lead them through what is likely to be some rough waters following the departure of Shohei Ohtani in free agency. The Angels haven’t been to the postseason since 2014, are on the verge of watching arguably the best player in baseball history walk for nothing, and feature one of the most pathetic farm systems in the league. Nothing is going to be easy for Washington in his new home, but if there’s anyone prepared for what is to come, it’s the man who’s been around professional baseball for nearly 50 years.

Washington was instrumental to the Braves success, helping them to a World Series in 2021 and six straight NL East division titles. Every player that has come through the organization knows how valuable he’s been to the success Atlanta has experienced. Nobody will be able to replicate what he brought to the field on a daily basis, but Washington knows what he taught the current core of Braves players will remain with them forever.

“OK, I’m gone, but the winner in those guys is still there,” Ron Washington said, via Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal Constitution. “That’s why you teach and you help people to be self-sufficient, and you never stop teaching them so they can be self-sufficient. The umbilical cord has been cut.”

The departure of Washington will be a difficult pill for all of Braves Country to swallow. He truly is one of one, and his impact will be a lasting one on every player that came up through the organization while he was a member of Brian Snitker’s staff. There’s not a player in the Braves clubhouse that can’t point to several moments where Washington has impacted their life for the better, and soon enough, the players in Los Angeles will be able to say the same thing.

The Angels hired the perfect guy to navigate them through this difficult time, and while he’ll be missed dearly in Braves Country, everyone should be happy Ron Washington is finally getting another opportunity to be the top dog in the clubhouse again.

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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire