Sports

Mets Complete Coaching Staff And Add Bronx Native

December 8, 2019 10:04 PM·

By Rich Mancuso/ Sports Editor

The New York Mets announced today their full coaching staff for the 2020 season. Returning to serve under Carlos Beltrán’s staff in their previous capacity will be hitting coach Chili Davis, assistant hitting coach Tom Slater, third base coach Gary DiSarcina, bullpen coach Ricky Bones and quality control coach Luis Rojas, while Jeremy Accardo has been elevated to assistant pitching coach. In addition, bench coach Hensley Meulens, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and first base coach Tony DeFrancesco all join the staff.

“I am looking forward to working with this talented, knowledgeable and experienced group,” Mets Manager Carlos Beltrán said. “Each member of the staff brings a unique perspective and expertise that will give myself and all of our players the tools they need to succeed.”

Tony DeFrancesco, 56, a Bronx native, joins the major league coaching staff as first base coach after spending the last two seasons managing the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate. The 2020 season will mark his third season in the organization and 37th year as a player, coach or manager in professional baseball.

Next year will mark his third stint in the major leagues. DeFrancesco served as the Houston Astros interim manager in 2012 and as the Oakland Athletics third base coach in 2008.

In 2015, he was named Baseball America’s Minor League Manager of the Year after leading Houston’s Triple-A affiliate in Fresno to its first Pacific Coast League Championship in franchise history as well as its first Triple-A National Championship. In 16 seasons as a manager at the Triple-A level, his clubs have won eight division titles, four PCL Championships and two Triple-A National Championships.

A catcher during his playing days, DeFrancesco played eight seasons in the minor leagues with Boston and Cincinnati. A 1981 graduate of Suffern High, DeFrancesco played three seasons at Seton Hall University and was drafted in the ninth round by the Boston Red Sox in 1984.

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Author: Rich has covered countless New York Mets and Yankees games along with some of the greatest boxing matches over the years. His award winning sports column has been in the Bronx News (which recently folded) for 28 years. Mancuso also has been a sports journalist for the Associated Press, New York Daily News, Gannett Westchester newspapers, Boxing Digest Magazine, The Sports Network and Latinosports.com. Bronxites will recall that Rich once hosted a sports talk television program, “Bronx Scoreboard” on Bronxnet Television. In addition, Mancuso recently concluded a four-year run hosting a sports talk program on the Whitney Broadcasting Network station WVOX.