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Sacramento River Cats

River Cats Manager Tony DeFrancesco named Oakland A's third base coach

October 25, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release


West Sacramento, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics today named River Cats Manager Tony DeFrancesco as their third base coach for the 2008 season. DeFrancesco led the Sacramento River Cats to three PCL Championships in his five-year tenure with the team, capping his run by winning the 2007 PCL and Triple-A Championships last month.

During DeFrancesco's five years at Sacramento, the River Cats compiled a 413-307 record and won four Pacific Coast League Southern Division titles and three PCL titles (2003-04; 2007). The 44-year-old DeFrancesco has spent the last 14 seasons managing in the A's minor league system. He was named the 2003 Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year and also earned The Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year award after guiding the River Cats to a 92-52 regular season mark. Both managers in River Cats' history (DeFrancesco and current A's manager Bob Geren) are now with Oakland.

"The entire River Cats organization is thrilled for Tony and his family," said Alan Ledford, President, GM and COO of the River Cats. "His extraordinary record of success with the River Cats speaks for itself.

"On behalf of the River Cats and all of our fans we would like to congratulate Tony and thank him for all he has accomplished."

DeFrancesco will join Ty Van Burkleo (hitting), Ron Romanick (bullpen), Don Wakamatsu (bench), Tye Waller (first base) and Curt Young (pitching) on Manager Bob Geren's coaching staff next season.

DeFrancesco's 14-year minor league managerial record, which includes stops with the A's Arizona Rookie League team (1994), Short-A Southern Oregon (1995-96), Single-A Visalia (1997-98), Double-A Midland (1999-2002) and Sacramento stands at 935-831.

A former catcher, DeFrancesco was a ninth round selection of the Boston Red Sox in the 1984 June Draft and spent eight seasons in the minor leagues with the Boston and Cincinnati organizations. A graduate of Suffern (NY) High School, DeFrancesco played three seasons at Seton Hall University.

The Oakland A's and Sacramento River Cats expect to name a replacement for DeFrancesco in the coming months.

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