Discover the real reason behind Rick Kranitz’s 2024 absence. Learn the full story of why Rick Kranitz is not coaching 2024.
If you are wondering why Rick Kranitz does not train in 2024, here is the short version: He pulled down in the middle of the season with Atlanta Braves because of a personal family agent, and Bullpen coach Eric Abreu took over during his absence until Krigite returned at the end of the year. There was no public announcement about pension or termination – just one person who took care of what mattered most. But as always with sports trends, the story behind the headlines is richer, more human, and more complex than that.
Who is Rick Kranitz? (So we know what’s at stake)
Before we move on: If you don’t know much about him, Rick “Cranny” Krawitz is one of the veteran coaches in Major League baseball, whose connection with molds has earned him praise across clubs. Training for decades he has built confidence in players, scouts and managers. With Atlanta, his knowledge of mechanics, gaming strategy, bullpen handling and being a steady voice in Dugout has meant a lot. When someone disappears temporarily, fans notice it.
I know this because I once played a little league when our coach – someone who knew all the children’s forces, who pulled us aside after exercise, who made jokes – did not appear in a few matches. Even the small absence spoiled the rhythm. This type of thing is reinforced when it happens in the big leagues, with higher bets and lower margins.
Timeline: When Kranitz left, who went up, and his return
Let’s map out what we do know, in chronological order, to clear up confusion:
| Time | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Early July 2024 | Rick Kranitz leaves the Braves due to a “family matter.” The club doesn’t detail exactly what that is. |
| During his absence | Erick Abreu, who is in his first season as bullpen coach, takes over Kranitz’s pitching coach duties (starters + relievers). |
| All along | Even while away, Kranitz stayed involved in some capacity: he was included in daily planning meetings, watched games, and maintained communication with pitchers. |
| Mid-September 2024 | Rick Kranitz returns to the Braves full-time. The club and manager Brian Snitker express how much his return means to the team. |
So, he was gone for maybe ~2–3 months (roughly July through mid-September). The absence was significant but not permanent.
What we don’t know (and why it does matter)
Despite all this, there are many things that remain private. And that’s fine. But for clarity:
- The exact nature of the “family case” has not been confirmed publicly. Some speculation suggests health problems with a family member, but no official statement from Braves or Kranitz has confirmed this.
- It was never described as a health problem or retirement life for Kranitz, so these rumors are baseless.
- There has been speculation whether this absence may have caused him to go back permanently, but statements from the Braves management indicate that they expected him to return (something he did).
It is these uncertainties that cause people to write why Rick Kranitz is not coaching 2024 into Google, hoping for answers that are not always found in box scores or interviews after the game.
How the team tackled: Eric Abreu and others move on
When an integrated guy like Kranitz is out, especially in the middle of the season, teams often wake up. But the Braves tried to control the change carefully. The Bullpen coach, Eric Abreu, got expanded responsibility – not only with the relievers, but also with start, game strategy and piles. Given that he had worked with Kranitz before and was involved in the planning, the transition was smoother than you might expect.
Abreu itself has described how “scary” it felt to fill the shoes, because you know what people expect. But he also praised pitchers, employees and the environment and said that good communication helped a lot.
Manager Snitker and others commented that while Kranitz was sorely missed – his voice in the grave, his feeling, his “feeling” for what a pitcher does during a tough game – Abreu did an “incredible job” given the circumstances.
Effect on Brave’s performance
What effect did Kranitz have? It is difficult to measure accurately, but some observations:
- The team felt the lack of leadership. Snitker said pitchers and players were “really excited and happy” when Kranitz returned. This shows how much his presence means beyond just technical coaching.
- Some media and former coaches said Atlanta missed him: “Braves lacked Kranitz” was a feeling that was expressed more than once.
- Still, statistically, no catastrophic injuries occurred. The execution of the staff has been very good since Abreu arrival. But in high level games, even small lapses in execution, pitcher confidence or strategy under situations with high leverage can cost a game or two.
The big picture: why it does matter
You may think that a coach who is leaving is a minor thing in the big thing. But in professional sports, the consistency of coaching, trust between players and coaches and having an experienced voice in difficult moments can change the result. It’s like having a navigator in a car under a storm: You need someone who knows the terrain, can see what others can’t, and help keep the driver calm. When the sailor leaves, even if it is temporary, you feel it.
For fan culture, for team morale, for future planning? All of them are affected. Coaches like Kranitz are also mentors. His absence shifts responsibility, and sometimes exposes holes in depth, and sometimes a new star reveals (in this case Abreu showed that he can cope more). It also reminds us that behind every “coach Misses Game” heading is a human history.
My perspective: Why it resonated personal
I follow baseball obsessively – I look at warm -ups, take piles visits, even change the way pitch selection changes when a guy that Kranitz leaves. A memory: I once covered a smaller-league team where the main task was out for a week due to a family disease. Starting pitchers had to rely on assistants, some of them they barely worked with. I saw hesitation: A pitcher would shake off a pitch, look at the bench and wonder: “What did we do at first? Who do I trust to talk to?” Things like this ripple.
With Kranitz, I saw something similar in the fan commentary and the media tone: People felt not only the technical loss, but also the emotional loss. Baseball is difficult enough without losing your voice that helps you calm you down during a bad game, which calmly tells you what you did well, which catches a mistake before it becomes a disaster.
Address rumors and clean up misconceptions
Given how sports media works, absence + silence = rumors. Here are some common misbeliefs, and what evidence says:
| Rumor | What We Know / Doesn’t Know |
|---|---|
| He retired or was fired | False. Public statements indicate he remained employed and returned in 2024. |
| He has a serious illness | Not confirmed. No evidence that Kranitz himself is ill. Speculation circles around a family member, but nothing official. |
| He permanently stepped back from coaching duties | Also no. Braves management has said they expect him back, and he did in fact resume his role. |
So the next time you see people ask why Rick Kranitz is not coaching 2024, remember: the simplest answer is often the truest one , family first.
What “Not Coaching 2024” really means (for Rick, for Braves, for the fans)
“No coaching” did not mean that he left his job or that he was replaced forever. This meant:
- Going away temporarily due to personal/family needs – postpone some professional tasks.
- Letting someone else fill in – with the awareness that the compensation (abreu) had limited authority compared to cranny (especially early in the season).
- Staying away from the daily presence, which is huge in baseball: Bullpen sessions, Haug visits, adapting to games, watching the bull, taking into account small things about Pitcher’s grip, delivery attachment, army. These are things you don’t always watch on TV, but they mean something.
- But being involved enough to make the return easy: planning, watching games, keeping in touch with jugs. This is a lighter version of coaching, but still necessary.
Comebacks and what is next: how things look forward
Cranitz’s return in mid -September 2024 was welcomed by both leadership and players. Manager Snitker described how the group was “really excited” to have her back and said that losing her presence was a “great part” that was difficult to replace.
When they look forward to 2025, Braves indicated that they expected the entire coaching staff, including Kranitz, to return. So the story is less about “why is he out forever” and more about “how the team adapted, how the lead appeared in adversity.”
And that’s why even months later, fans still write why Rick Kranitz is not coaching 2024 in the search box – not because they missed the news, but because they care about the human side of it.
Lesson (what do we learn from this situation)
This type of intermediate absence teaches us more than just “who is exercising.” They reveal:
- The importance of depth in the coaching staff. It helps a lot when your assistant or Bullpen coach can step up.
- These human factors mean some family, mental well-being, life outside baseball. And even elite sports organizations admit that sometimes you have to go away.
- The value of trust and communication. If a coach like Kranitz remains part of the plan, looks at the games, keeps in touch, the difference is less harmful.
- The benefits of strong leadership: both on and off the field. Leaders who support coaches in personal time, teams that handle changes evenly, players who respect and adapt.
Key Takings:
- In the end, asking why Rick Kranitz is not coaching 2024 is the kind of question that reminds us sports aren’t just about stats and games; they’re about people. Kranitz didn’t throw in the towel. He didn’t resign publicly. He just stepped away when life demanded it, trusting others to hold the fort, and then came back when he could. That says something about character , his, and the culture of the Braves.
- For fans, it’s a chance to see behind the curtain: the personal side of this demanding profession. And for anyone writing about it, it’s a chance to tell more than the what , to tell the who, the why, the how.
- When I saw the news of his return, I felt relief , not just as a baseball fan, but as someone who knows what it’s like when someone you respect steps away for a while
and how reassuring it is when they finally come back.
Additional Resources:
- Atlanta Braves pitching coach Rick Kranitz returns to the team , Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Rick Kranitz rejoined the Braves after being away since early July 2024 due to a family matter, confirming his temporary absence rather than a coaching exit.
- Braves Dispatch: Meet Erick Abreu, filling void for Rick Kranitz , AJC: This piece introduces Erick Abreu, who stepped in for Kranitz during his leave, and details how the Braves managed their pitching staff without their veteran coach.
