SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Mets, the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, have announced Tony DeFrancesco as their manager for the inaugural 2019 season.
He comes to Syracuse with 24 years of managerial experience, including last season as manager for the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Bronx, New York native has won more than 1,700 games as a manager in his career, the Syracuse Mets said in a Wednesday news release.
In 15 seasons as a Triple-A manager, DeFrancesco has won eight division titles, four Pacific Coast League championships, and two Triple-A National Championships. He was named Baseball America’s Minor League Manager of the Year in 2015.
DeFrancesco also managed in the majors on an interim basis for the Houston Astros’ final 41 games of the 2012 season.
“I am very excited to be a part of the Inaugural Season of Mets baseball in Syracuse and getting back to the International League,” DeFrancesco said in the release. “Being a New York guy with our New York team, it just seems like a great fit. Having us be so close to Binghamton, Brooklyn, and the big-league club is great for our fans, our players, and our organization. I’ll try to bring the sun with me for Opening Day!”
The Syracuse Mets open the 2019 season on April 4 at NBT Bank Stadium against the Pawtucket Red Sox.
Additional staff members
Besides DeFrancesco, the Syracuse Mets also announced their entire coaching staff for the upcoming season.
Pitching coach Glenn Abbott is entering his ninth season in the New York Mets organization and his second as their Triple-A pitching coach. Originally from North Little Rock, Arkansas, Abbott played 11 years in the majors with Oakland, Seattle, and Detroit.
Hitting coach Joel Chimelis held the same position last season at the Triple-A level for the Mets. Chimelis was born in Brooklyn and came to the Mets organization last year after spending 12 years with the Astros and two seasons with the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals organization.
Bench coach Benny Distefano will begin his 10th season in the New York Mets organization and his first season as bench coach for the Syracuse Mets. The Brooklyn native was previously the minor league outfield coordinator for New York over the last four seasons.
Athletic trainer Grant Hufford and performance coach Josh Fields round out the coaching staff. Hufford is beginning his second season as a Triple-A athletic trainer with the Mets, while Fields is entering his third season as the Mets Triple-A performance coach.
While all six staff members are new to the Syracuse coaching staff this season, five of them were together last year coaching the Mets’ previous Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
Photo credit: Syracuse Mets
