For a sport built on tradition, baseball has never stopped evolving. However, every time it tries to modernize, there’s always a risk of losing touch with its roots. On Saturday, history was being made at Bristol Motor Speedway, Tennessee. Yes, Major League Baseball’s first-ever regular season game—the 2025 Speedway Classic played out with a record-breaking 85,000 attendees. However, with mother nature’s plans, the game was suspended until Sunday. More than that, what stood out was a voice from Atlanta Braves legend.

The Hall of Famer and former major leaguer Chipper Jones enlightened the venue with his presence at the pregame ceremony. He rode a bullpen car with other former MLB icons and also threw the ceremonial first pitch to NASCAR driver Chase Elliott.

However, while the game was engineered for a one-of-a-kind spectacle, it was Jones’ message that made the most impact.  Jones, who has 468 home runs and 1,623 runs batted in (RBIs) to his name, ranks third on the Braves career home run list. The switch hitter was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2018 and is still hailed for his talent.

Throughout his entire career, he never struck out 100 times in a season. And well, for him, hitting was always about the toughest out possible. At the 2025 Speedway Classic, he opened up about how MLB’s power-hitting obsession is jeopardizing the roots of the game. “I respect the numbers and I will read the numbers to a certain extent but I’m not going to overload my mind with numbers. This is a feel vs reel type of game.”

Further, he added, “The bottom line is when I walk up to the plate, I want to be the toughest out possible. It’s a slap in my face to strike out. I don’t want to strike out. I take great pride in the fact that I’ve never struck out 100 times in a season.” It truly deeply matters to him.

Apparently, he’s pointing at the modern hitting strategies. These are focused on prioritizing home runs and accepting high strikeout rates. As of recent decades, the clubs, trainers and players know exactly what happens where, right down to the pitch.

They know that the damage is done nine to eighteen inches in front of the home plate. It’s always been consistency and contact over strikeouts for him. Well, Jones is widely loved by the Braves nation and the calls have been mounting for him to become the Braves’ next skipper. However, how interested is he?

Would Chipper want to be the next Braves manager?

His name first swirled around this spectrum after he served as the National League manager in the All-Star Futures game recently. Well, sure, that wasn’t a hint that he’s ready to become the Atlanta Braves manager.

However, even after his recent remarks on modernized hitting strategies, the MLB fans were completely influenced. They wanted somebody as good as Chipper to manage an MLB team. Naturally, the Atlanta Braves was the fans’ first speculation.

Sometime ago, when he was asked about the possibility of becoming Braves manager, he shared his take on that. “I’ve still got three boys at home and seven boys in total. They keep me plenty busy. You have to be completely committed to be a coach or a manager.” 

He further added that as of late, he is being pulled in other important directions. Plus, Brian Snitker is expected to retire by the end of this season, and well, it’s unlikely that his spot will be taken by Jones. He believes that the role of a manager is fireable and he has wondered time and again why any GM, especially in the Atlanta Braves, would hire him for a fireable spot. So, while he has not completely denied it, he has not given any affirmative answer either.