DeFrancesco, Entire Cats Staff Returns for '07
Published on January 10, 2007 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Sacramento River Cats announced today that Manager Tony DeFrancesco and the entire 2006 River Cats Field Staff will return to Sacramento for the 2007 season. DeFrancesco, who enters his 5th campaign with the Cats, will once again be joined by Hitting Coach Brian McArn, Pitching Coach Rick Rodriguez and Athletic Trainer Walt Horn.
DeFrancesco, 43, has guided the River Cats to the Southern Division Crown in three of his four seasons at the helm of the club and led the team to back-to-back Pacific Coast League Championships in his first two seasons (2003-2004). Last year, DeFrancesco led the River Cats to a 78-66 regular-season record, 4th best in the PCL. The team finished in 2nd place in the PCL's Pacific Conference Southern division and 13.0 games back of the first place Tucson Sidewinders, the eventual PCL and Triple-A Baseball Champions. Overall in his four seasons, DeFrancesco has tallied a 329-247 regular season record (best in the PCL during that span) as well as a postseason record of 14-4. In 2003, he was named "Manager of the Year" by both the Pacific Coast League and The Sporting News.
"I am thrilled to return to Raley Field for 2007," said DeFrancesco from his home in Arizona. "The entire River Cats organization and Sacramento community have embraced me since my first day here and I look forward to bringing another championship to the great Sacramento fans."
The upcoming season will mark DeFrancesco's 14th as a manager in the Oakland A's organization. He enters this year with a career managerial record of 851-771 (.525). DeFrancesco made his managerial debut in 1994 with the Athletics' Arizona League affiliate, followed by two seasons (1995-96) with Southern Oregon (Rookie) and two seasons (1997-98) with the Visalia Oaks (Single-A). He joined the River Cats after four seasons (1999-2002) as the Manager of the Midland RockHounds (Double-A).
Prior to his first managerial job, DeFrancesco served as a coach at Southern Oregon and a Roving Catching Instructor in the A's system. A ninth-round selection of the Boston Red Sox in the 1984 Draft, he played eight seasons of professional baseball as a catcher in the Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds organizations.
McArn, 37, is the third hitting coach in the club's history. Last season, his second with the Cats, Sacramento hitters batted .270 and finished 2nd in the PCL in walks (612). He replaced Joe Sparks in 2005, who serves the Oakland A's as their major league advance scout. Roy White was the River Cats' hitting coach for their first four seasons, from 2000-03.
This season will mark McArn's tenth as a hitting coach in the A's organization, his eleventh as a coach in professional baseball. Prior to joining the Cats, he served as Hitting Coach for Midland, after six seasons with Modesto (Single-A). McArn began his professional coaching career with the Vermont Expos (Single-A) of the New York-Penn League in 1996.
McArn was selected by the A's in the 26th round of the 1991 Amateur Draft out of the University of Nebraska and spent two years as a player in the Oakland organization before injuries ended his career. After retiring, McArn coached at American River Junior College in Sacramento for five seasons.
Rodriguez, 46, will serve his seventh season as Sacramento's pitching coach in 2007. After three years with the River Cats from 2000-02, he managed the Modesto A's in 2003 before returning to the Cats in 2004. Prior to his first stint with the River Cats, he was pitching coach for Modesto in 1999. Last year, Rodriguez's pitching staff had an ERA of 4.56 and threw 10 shutouts, tied for most in team history.
Rodriguez played parts of four seasons in the major leagues as a right-handed pitcher. In his major league career, he compiled a 3-4 record and a 5.72 ERA in 31 games. He played in the majors with Oakland (1986-87), Cleveland (1988) and San Francisco (1990).
Horn, 51, will return for his eighth season as the River Cats' certified athletic trainer, his 24th as the trainer for Oakland's Triple-A affiliate. This season will mark his 30th as a trainer in the A's organization. He was named the PCL's Trainer of the Year during the 2004, 2002, 1996 and 1992 seasons.
In addition to his athletic training duties, Horn assists with the team's travel and equipment responsibilities. A 1977 graduate of Boise State University, he is certified through the National Athletic Trainers Association.
Interview requests for DeFrancesco and the rest of the River Cats coaching staff should be directed to the River Cats Media Relations department.
The River Cats open their 2007 home schedule on Thursday, March 29th when they host the Oakland A's at Raley Field at 6:05 P.M. Tickets for the A's Exhibition Game are currently available only through purchase of River Cats Full Season Tickets, 37-Game and 19-Game Mini Plans. 2007 River Cats Season Tickets or Mini Plans can be purchased at the Raley Field Ticket Office and by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS. For more information about the 2007 River Cats season, visit www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.
Pacific Coast League Stories from January 10, 2007
- DeFrancesco, Entire Cats Staff Returns for '07 - Sacramento River Cats
- Sky Sox and Rockies to play exhibition game March 30 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
