Tony DeFrancesco
Encyclopedia
Anthony John DeFrancesco (born April 24, 1963 in Suffern, New York
) is an American
minor league baseball
manager
. In , he will pilot the Oklahoma RedHawks
, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros
. Previously, he spent six seasons as manager of the Sacramento River Cats
, and served one season as third-base coach
for the Oakland Athletics
of Major League Baseball
. He was also a catcher
in the Boston Red Sox
and Cincinnati Reds
farm systems from 1984 to 1992.
As the manager of the River Cats, (Oakland's AAA
farm club), DeFrancesco led the River Cats to three Pacific Coast League
titles in five years, winning the Pacific Coast League and The Sporting News
Minor League Manager of the Year awards in 2003. The River Cats won the 2007 Bricktown Showdown under DeFrancesco.
DeFrancesco was a minor league coach and manager for the Oakland Athletics farm system for fourteen years, managing teams in the Arizona Rookie League, Northwest League
, California League
and Texas League
, as well as the Pacific Coast League
River Cats.
, DeFrancesco was selected in the ninth round of the 1984 draft by the Boston Red Sox
. During a nine year minor league playing career, DeFrancesco played in 567 games and advanced as high as AAA, but never played in the majors
.
In 2003 Tony DeFrancesco moved up to the Pacific Coast League
's Sacramento River Cats, where he led the team to a 92-52 record in his first year, earning him the 2003 Minor League Manager of the Year from The Sporting News. DeFrancesco would continue to lead the River Cats to PCL championships in 2004 and 2007.
In 2008, DeFrancesco became the third base coach for the Oakland Athletics
.
In 2009, Oakland announced that DeFrancesco would return to the Sacramento River Cats
as manager, replacing Todd Steverson
.
On November 30, 2010, the Athletics announced that Darren Bush would replace DeFrancesco as manager of the River Cats.
Suffern, New York
Suffern is a village in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the State of New Jersey; east of Hillburn; south of Montebello and west of Airmont...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
. In , he will pilot the Oklahoma RedHawks
Oklahoma RedHawks
The Oklahoma City RedHawks are a minor league baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros...
, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. Previously, he spent six seasons as manager of the Sacramento River Cats
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
, and served one season as third-base coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He was also a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
farm systems from 1984 to 1992.
As the manager of the River Cats, (Oakland's AAA
AAA (baseball)
Triple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball in the United States and Mexico.-Purpose:Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues:...
farm club), DeFrancesco led the River Cats to three Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
titles in five years, winning the Pacific Coast League and The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
Minor League Manager of the Year awards in 2003. The River Cats won the 2007 Bricktown Showdown under DeFrancesco.
DeFrancesco was a minor league coach and manager for the Oakland Athletics farm system for fourteen years, managing teams in the Arizona Rookie League, Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
, California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
and Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
, as well as the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
River Cats.
Player
After three seasons playing at Seton Hall UniversitySeton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
, DeFrancesco was selected in the ninth round of the 1984 draft by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. During a nine year minor league playing career, DeFrancesco played in 567 games and advanced as high as AAA, but never played in the majors
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Manager
After retiring as a player, DeFrancesco began his managing career in 1994 with the Arizona League Athletics.In 2003 Tony DeFrancesco moved up to the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
's Sacramento River Cats, where he led the team to a 92-52 record in his first year, earning him the 2003 Minor League Manager of the Year from The Sporting News. DeFrancesco would continue to lead the River Cats to PCL championships in 2004 and 2007.
In 2008, DeFrancesco became the third base coach for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
In 2009, Oakland announced that DeFrancesco would return to the Sacramento River Cats
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
as manager, replacing Todd Steverson
Todd Steverson
Todd Anthony Steverson is a former right-handed left and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres...
.
On November 30, 2010, the Athletics announced that Darren Bush would replace DeFrancesco as manager of the River Cats.