Tony DeFrancesco
From BR Bullpen
Tony DeFrancesco
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 190 lb.
- School Seton Hall University
- Born April 24, 1963 in New York, NY USA
[edit] Biographical information
Catcher Tony DeFrancesco was drafted in the 9th round of the 1984 amateur draft by the Boston Red Sox and played eight seasons in the minors in the Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds organizations. In 1984 he was named to the New York-Penn League all-star team.
After his playing days, DeFrancesco was a roving catching instructor for two seasons, and a coach with the Southern Oregon A's for one season. Next he became a minor league manager in the Oakland Athletics organization. He started with the AZL Athletics in 1994. Next he managed the Southern Oregon A's in 1995, Southern Oregon Timberjacks in 1996, and the Visalia Oaks in 1997 and 1998. He spent four seasons as skipper of the AA Midland Rockhounds (1999-2002) and in 2003, he joined the Sacramento River Cats. In his first year with the team, the club captured the Pacific Coast League title and DeFrancesco was named Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year. He led Sacramento to two more PCL titles in 2004 and 2007.
In 2008, DeFrancesco became the third base coach for the Oakland A's, but the following year, he returned to managing the River Cats.
