Braves land ex-Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, first base coach Antoan Richardson after overhaul

The Braves are hoping to make the most of the Mets’ teaching turnover.

Atlanta added some spice to the NL East rivalry by hiring fired ex-Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and esteemed first base coach Antoan Richardson, a free agent after he couldn’t conform to phrases with the Mets this offseason, the Braves introduced Wednesday afternoon.

Hefner will function Atlanta’s pitching coach and Richardson will deal with first base duties for brand spanking new supervisor Walt Weiss.

The Mets overhauled their teaching employees this offseason following their collapse that resulted within the franchise lacking the playoffs.

Hefner’s exit stood out among the many adjustments, which included the hitting coaches, because the Mets had loved pitching success underneath his tutelage earlier than fading down the stretch.

Atlanta’s press launch famous the Amazin’s had the sixth-best ERA, allowed the fourth-fewest hits and tallied the fifth-most strikeouts within the NL throughout his six-year tenure.

This previous 12 months, the Mets had the perfect ERA within the sport early within the season earlier than a second-half swoon left them a 4.04 mark for the season, rating 18th.

Hefner will substitute Rick Kranitz, who realized Monday he had been dismissed, per MLB.com.

Richardson heads to Atlanta after the Mets didn’t meet his contract calls for.

Whereas he had been invited to return for the 2026 season, Richardson and the Mets have been “far aside” in contract negotiations as of late October, The Put up reported.

Atlanta then swooped in and poached a coach credited with serving to Juan Soto notch a career-high 38 stolen bases this 12 months after maxing at 12 in 2023 and 2019.

“The 2 of them are tight,” a supply near Soto informed The Put up’s Mike Puma.

Richardson will substitute ex-Mets coach Tom Goodwin, per MLB.com.

The Braves goal to return to the playoffs in 2026 after their seven-year streak snapped this previous season with an injury-filled 76-86 marketing campaign that noticed the pitching employees decimated.