RedHawks Introduce New Manager

Originally Published: Dec 1, 2010 3:29 PM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

OKLAHOMA CITY—The Oklahoma City RedHawks have officially introduced their new manager, Tony DeFrancesco, to the team and the media.

“It's a new era. People change. Franchises change. Now we're hoping the Astros can be here for 30 years. Oklahoma City is a great location?once we get a little winning tradition going again, and they recognize some of the names going to Houston, we should be OK,” said DeFrancesco.

Last week, DeFrancesco was announced as the RedHawks new manager, and since then he made the trip to Oklahoma to be introduced to the city.

DeFrancesco has managed professional baseball for 16 seasons in the Oakland Athletics’ minor league system, and most recently he guided the Sacramento River Cats to the 2010 PCL Pacific Conference Southern Division title with a record of 79-65.

He led the Sacramento RiverCats to six division championships and three Pacific Coast League titles. In 2003 The Sporting selected him as the National Minor League Manager of the Year.

DeFrancesco himself was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1984 and played four seasons in the Red Sox farm system, then four years in the Cincinnati Reds organization.

The RedHawks first home game is April 15 at 7:05 p.m. against Albuquerque.