Walt Weiss savors a special debut as Braves manager in a 6-0 win over the Royals

ATLANTA (AP) — As Walt Weiss approached his first game as manager of the Braves, he couldn't help but think of those who held the seat before him.

There weren't many over the past 30 years, after all.

“It's a little overwhelming,” Weiss said after the Braves' 6-0 win over the Royals on Friday night. "I don't take this responsibility lightly. Sitting in the seat that I'm in with this uniform on is really, really special, and there will never be a day that I'm in that seat that I take it for granted.”

Weiss was hired in November as the successor to Brian Snitker, the well-liked manager that led the Braves to a 2021 World Series title. Fredi Gonzalez held the position from 2010-16, and Bobby Cox was manager for the 20 years before (1990-2010).

Weiss is familiar with all of the above.

He played under Cox during his final three seasons of a 14-year professional career. In 2017, after a four-year stint as manager of the Rockies, Weiss returned to Atlanta as the Braves' bench coach, where he served as Snitker's right-hand man for eight years.

“They don't come any better than Walt,” Snitker said during an in-game interview in the BravesVision TV booth. “Every offseason when his name would come up as a managerial candidate, I'd call him. I'd be panicked because he's such a great baseball guy, a good person. He's going to do a great job here.”

The season opener was evidence that the Weiss era in Atlanta is welcomed by the team with open arms. Pitcher Chris Sale, who shut out the Royals for six innings and notched six strikeouts, said the team is ready to fight for the new manager.

“Who he is, what he means to this organization, but especially the guys in the clubhouse — man, like we really enjoy fighting for him, because we know he's fighting for us. It was really special," Sale said, adding that the team did a "nice little fun thing” in the clubhouse for him. Sale kept any detail of a passing of the torch celebration close to the vest, but Weiss revealed a little more.

“They got this thing, when the player of the game — I wasn't player of the game, that was Sale — but they let me take the putt,” Weiss said. “It's probably about a 30, 40 footer. And, you know, there's a lot of hootin' and hollerin' and stuff on the line. I got to do the player of the game putt, and they gave me a nice little gift for my first win.”

Weiss missed the putt, but overall, it was a sweet night for the new manager of the Braves, who secured a win and put any concern of another 0-7 start to rest.

“It's just good to put that narrative behind us."

Added Weiss with a smile: “It's nice to be 1-0.”

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Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) is safe on a two-RBI triple hit by Atlanta Braves' Mauricio Dubón in the seventh inning of an opening-day baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Braves' Mauricio Dubón (14) hits a two-RBI triple against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning of an opening-day baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) deliveres in the first inning of an opening-day baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Tyler Kinley (45) celebrates victory with Atlanta Braves' Jonah Heim over the Kansas City Royals after an opening-day baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

FILE - Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss sands in the dugout before a spring training baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in North Port, Fla., Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert,File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers slipped glittering World Series championship rings on their fingers to celebrate their second straight title Friday night in a pregame ceremony.

Shohei Ohtani removed his ring from a blue box that includes a video playing highlights from last year's postseason run that culminated in a Game 7 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Japanese superstar put it on and held up a fist in celebration.

It's the first time in the Dodgers' storied history that the team won World Series titles back-to-back. It was their third championship in six years.

Shortstop Mookie Betts owns four World Series rings — three with Los Angeles and one with Boston. He's made no secret of wanting to go from being a five-tool player to one with five rings. He jogged on a blue carpet to a stage in front of the mound with a big smile on his face.

The loudest cheers went to World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who waved to the crowd. When Freddie Freeman accepted his third ring, fans chanted “Freddie! Freddie!” He won his first title with Atlanta.

Ohtani, Freeman and Betts posed with their fists out. The entire team gathered around the mound to show off their bling at the end of the ceremony hosted by actor-comedian Anthony Anderson. The USC marching band played and stood in an LA formation in the outfield.

Orel Hershiser, pitching hero of the franchise's 1988 World Series run, took the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. He was called back and replaced by pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who retired last season after 18 years with the Dodgers. He tossed the ball and was then presented his ring by his former teammates.

Studded with diamonds and sapphires, the jewelry contains a ring-within-a-ring feature and includes dirt gathered from home plate in Game 7.

A total of 86 diamonds in 14-karat yellow gold spell out world champions around the face. A single diamond symbolizes being the No. 1 team in baseball.

The L.A. logo contains 17 blue sapphires, representing the number of postseason games the team won. Behind the logo are 79 diamonds with 48 round sapphires. The dates of the team’s nine World Series championships and 15 round sapphires encircle the ring top. Another 50 diamonds decorate the top and bottom of the bezel. A total of 70 round diamonds frame the centerpiece.

Each ring has the player's own signature engraved on the interior of the band. “Back 2 Back” is in blue on the right side of the ring. The exterior band features the numbers 4,012,470, signifying the Dodgers' attendance in 2025.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani receives his ring from Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter during a World Series Champion ring ceremony prior to a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Dodgers players hold up hands to show off their World Series Champion rings during a ceremony prior to a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani adjusts his ring during a World Series Champion ring ceremony prior to a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman looks at his ring during a World Series ring ceremony prior to a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts pose with their rings during a World Series Champion ring ceremony prior to a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)