Former Mets Coach Hasn't Shared Secrets with Braves Yet

Antoan Richardson joined the Braves as first base coach, but Atlanta's base-stealing numbers haven't improved so far.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 7:00pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball player sliding into a base, the scene broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the uniforms of the competing teams.A cubist interpretation of the base-stealing battle between the Braves and Mets, highlighting the early struggles of Atlanta's running game.NYC Today

Antoan Richardson, who was the first base coach for the New York Mets in 2025, left to take the same position with the Atlanta Braves this offseason. While Richardson was credited with helping turn Juan Soto into one of the league's best base stealers with the Mets, the Braves have struggled to get their running game going in the early part of the 2026 season.

Why it matters

The Braves hired Richardson in part to help improve their base-stealing ability, which was below average in 2025. However, so far this season the Braves have only one stolen base while being thrown out three times, the worst ratio in baseball. This raises questions about whether Richardson has been able to implement his base-stealing philosophy with the new team.

The details

Through six games, the Braves are 4-2 and only one game better than the Mets' 3-3 record. The Braves' pitching has been strong with a 2.00 ERA, but their base-stealing numbers have been poor. They have only one stolen base, tied for the fewest in MLB, while being thrown out three times, the worst ratio in the league. Last season, the Braves had 82 stolen bases, which ranked 26th in baseball, and were thrown out 25 times. In contrast, the 2025 Mets stole 147 bases and were thrown out only 18 times, in part due to Richardson's work with the team's base runners, including Juan Soto.

  • The Braves hired Antoan Richardson as their first base coach this offseason.
  • Through the first six games of the 2026 season, the Braves have only one stolen base.

The players

Antoan Richardson

Former first base coach for the New York Mets, now in the same role with the Atlanta Braves.

Juan Soto

Outfielder for the New York Mets in 2025, who improved his base-stealing ability under Richardson's coaching.

Ronald Acuna Jr.

Outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, who stole 9 bases in 10 attempts in 2025.

Matt Olson

First baseman for the Atlanta Braves.

Jeremy Hefner

Pitching coach for the Atlanta Braves, previously with the New York Mets.

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What’s next

As the season progresses, the Braves will likely look to increase their stolen base attempts, especially with players like Ronald Acuna Jr. who have shown the ability to be effective base stealers in the past.

The takeaway

While the Braves hired Antoan Richardson to help improve their base-stealing, the early returns have been disappointing, as the team has struggled to get their running game going. It remains to be seen if Richardson can implement his philosophy and help the Braves become a more effective base-stealing team as the season continues.