The Braves announced the hire on Tuesday, after Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com reported Monday that he was the front-runner to take the full-time job.

The 60-year-old coaching veteran, who’s managed all around the Braves’ minor league system, told Mark Bowman of MLB.com on Sept. 28 that he’d love to keep the job into 2017 and beyond, but general manager John Coppolella didn’t commit to anything.

“[Snitiker] has been outstanding on the field and off the field,” Coppolella said. “He’s been exactly what we’ve needed right now. We’ll continue to evaluate it and see which direction we go.”

The Braves are looking to take their first major step forward in 2017, after an often painful rebuilding process.

In addition to the arrival of some top prospects, led by shortstop Dansby Swanson, the team is also preparing to open its new home, SunTrust Park, next year.

Jesse Spector of Sporting News commented on how well the team, which looked destined to finish at the bottom of the standings by a significant margin early in the season, has played since the managerial change.

Ultimately, it would have been unwise for the Braves to go with a manager other than Snitker, given how well the team—which remains short on talent as it awaits more highly rated prospects to arrive in the big leagues—has performed under his guidance.

Atlanta can afford to give Snitker a couple of years to prove himself while the team transitions back into a legitimate contender in the National League.