Interim general manager John Hart made the announcement Friday.
Gonzalez’ future was in doubt after the Braves missed the playoffs. GM Frank Wren was fired with a week to go in the regular season.
It was thought the Braves would wait until a permanent GM was hired to decide on Gonzalez’s future. But with no timetable for making that announcement, the team decided to bring back Gonzalez, who has led the Braves to a pair of postseason appearances and an NL East title during his four years as manager.
Gonzalez is under contract through the 2015 season.
The Braves also announced that former Houston Astros manager Bo Porter will take over for Doug Dascenzo as third base coach.
FERNANDEZ FEELING BETTER
Jose Fernandez released the ball with such velocity that the sound of it landing in the catcher’s mitt echoed crisply throughout Marlins Park.
And to think, he’s nowhere close to throwing hard yet.
Fernandez’s recovery from elbow-reconstruction surgery is turning another corner, with the Miami Marlins’ ace now starting a throwing program. He made 25 tosses on Friday, the second throwing session of a rehab project that is still a long way from being finished.
“Feels like I never had surgery and I never stopped throwing,” Fernandez said. “It’s weird because you think you will feel it. You guys saw there, the ball’s just coming out of my hand incredible.”
He needed about five minutes to complete the 25 throws to Marlins athletic trainer Sean Cunningham, who winced occasionally as Fernandez’s throws from about 30 to 45 feet neared his glove.
Fernandez is 16-8 in parts of two seasons with the Marlins with a 2.25 ERA, and won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2013. He had surgery in May and is expected back by the midpoint of the 2015 season.
FRICK FINALSISTS NAMED
Former slugger Ralph Kiner and longtime announcer Dick Enberg are among the 10 finalists for the 2015 Ford C. Frick Award presented by the Hall of Fame for excellence in baseball broadcasting.
The Hall announced the finalists Friday. The winner will be announced Dec. 10 during the winter meetings.
Kiner was elected to the Hall in 1975 after leading or tying for the league home run lead in seven of his 10 seasons. He spent more than 50 seasons as an announcer, mostly with the New York Mets.
Enberg broadcast games for the Angels and Padres for 16 seasons. He’s been a sports announcer for more than 50 years.
A 20-person panel that includes the 16 living Frick Award winners will choose this year’s recipient.
Also on the ballot are: Richie Ashburn, Billy Berroa, Rene Cardenas, Dizzy Dean, Ernie Johnson Sr., Ned Martin, Joe Nuxhall and Jack Quinlan.
Contributor: The Associated Press
