DeFrancesco back for Sacramento
DeFrancesco, 42, has guided the River Cats to the Southern Division Crown in each of his three 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 season, DeFrancesco led the River Cats to an 80-64 regular-season record, tops in the PCL, before falling to Tacoma 3 games to 2 in the teams' best-of-five Conference Championship Series.
Overall in his three seasons, DeFrancesco has tallied a 251-181 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 and, last year, managed the PCL All-Stars to victory at the 2005 Triple-A All-Star Game at Raley Field.
"It is exciting to be back in Sacramento again this year," said DeFrancesco from his home in Arizona. "River Cats fans have been great to me during my time here and I look forward to making another run at a PCL championship in 2006."
The upcoming season will mark DeFrancesco's 13th as a manager in the Oakland A's organization. He enters this year with a career managerial record of 773-705 (.523).
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 (Class 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, 36, is the third hitting coach in the club's history. Last season, his first with the Cats, Sacramento hitters batted .273 and led the PCL in walks (608). 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 ninth as a hitting coach in the A's organization, his 10th as a coach in professional baseball. Prior to joining the Cats, he served as Hitting Coach for Midland, after six seasons with Modesto (Class A). McArn began his professional coaching career with the Vermont Expos (Class A) of the New York-Penn League in 1996. He was selected by the A's in the 26th round of the 1991 Draft out of the University of Nebraska and spent two years in the Oakland organization before injuries ended his career. After retiring, McArn coached at American River Junior College in Sacramento for five seasons.
Rodriguez, 45, will serve his sixth season as Sacramento's pitching coach in 2006. 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 led the PCL with a 4.21 ERA.
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, 50, will return for his seventh season as the River Cats' certified athletic trainer, his 23rd as the trainer for Oakland's Triple-A affiliate. This season will mark his 29th 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.
The River Cats open their 2006 home schedule on Thursday, March 30th when they host the Oakland A's at Raley Field at 6:35 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 Fun Packs. 2006 River Cats Season Tickets or Fun Packs can be purchased at the Raley Field Box Office and by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS.