Brian Snitker of the Atlanta Braves and Bob Melvin of the Oakland Athletics are Major League Baseball’s 2018 Managers of the Year Award recipients. This marks Melvins third career Manager of the Year Award and Snitker’s first.

Brian Snitker was named interim manager of the Braves in May of 2016 after Atlanta fired manager Fredi González in preparation for a rebuilding phase. The Braves were not expected to compete in 2018 and with the help of a Rookie of the Year winning season from Ronald Acuna and incredible years from Nick Markakis, Freddie Freeman, and Ozzie Albies, the Braves finished their rebuild a year ahead of schedule and won the National League East. The Braves finished the year with a 90-72 record.

While the Braves didn’t make much noise come October, it was an incredible year and they will be back next year better than we have seen the Braves in a long time.

Brian Snitker received 17 of the 30 possible first-place votes for the National League Award with Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell finishing in second place followed by Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black, St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt, Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon, and Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Oakland Athletics were not expected to so much as finish above fourth in the loaded American League West and after getting off to a rough start, the A’s went on a tear and were able to finish the season with the second Wild Card spot. The A’s went from a team that was expected to win less than 70 games (after winning just 75) to a 97 game winner under Melvin’s leadership.

Bob Melvin received 18 of the 30 possible first-place votes for the award in the American League with Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora finishing in second place, followed by Kevin Cash of the Yampa Bay Rays, A.J. Hinch of the Houston Astros, and Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees.