Career
He was brought up from the Astros" Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma RedHawks during the 2012 MLB season. Previously, he spent six seasons as manager of the Sacramento River Cats and served one season as third-base coach for the Oakland Athletics of the MLB. He was also a catcher in the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds farm systems from 1984 to 1992. DeFrancesco was a minor league coach and manager for the Oakland Athletics farm system for fourteen years, managing teams in the Arizona Rookie League, Northwest League, California League and Texas League, as well as the Pacific Coast League River Cats.
After three seasons playing at Seton Hall for head coach Mike Sheppard, DeFrancesco was selected in the ninth round of the 1984 draft by the Boston Red Sox.
During a nine-year minor league playing career, DeFrancesco played in 567 games and advanced as high as American Automobile Association, but never played in the majors. After retiring as a player, DeFrancesco began his managing career in 1994 with the Arizona League Athletics.
DeFrancesco would continue to lead the River Cats to PCL championships in 2004 and 2007. In 2008, DeFrancesco became the third base coach for the Oakland Athletics.
In 2009, Oakland announced that DeFrancesco would return to the Sacramento River Cats as manager, replacing Todd Steverson.
On November 30, 2010, the Athletics announced that Darren Bush would replace DeFrancesco as manager of the River Cats. On August 19, 2012, the Astros announced DeFrancesco would be the interim manager of the major league team for the remainder of the 2012 season, replacing Brad Mills. With his appointment late in the 2012 season, DeFrancesco served as the final manager of the Astros as a National League franchise.
He has been the of the Triple A team Fresno Grizzlies in the 2015 season.
During his first season, he led the Central Valley team to Triple A champions. lieutenant was the team"s first time winning the Triple A championship in 18 seasons.
