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Oklahoma City RedHawks: Tony DeFrancesco will return as RedHawks manager in 2013

Tony D. spent the last month and a half as the Houston Astros' interim manager. After Bo Porter was hired as the Astros' full-time manager, DeFrancesco mentioned that he would not mind returning to OKC.

From Staff Reports | Published: November 5, 2012 Comment on this article

photo - OKLAHOMA CITY REDHAWKS / MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Oklahoma City manager Tony DeFrancesco looks on from the dugout during the RedHawks' game against Omaha at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Okla. Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

OKLAHOMA CITY REDHAWKS / MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Oklahoma City manager Tony DeFrancesco looks on from the dugout during the RedHawks' game against Omaha at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Okla. Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

Tony DeFrancesco, who spent last month and a half of the baseball season as the Houston Astros' interim manager, will return to manage the Oklahoma City RedHawks in 2013. The Astros made the announcement Monday. DeFrancesco will be in his third season with the RedHawks, who were managed the last month by Astros minor league instructor Tom Lawless.

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After Houston hired Washington Nationals coach Bo Porter as its new manager, DeFrancesco said he wanted to remain in the Astros organization; he mentioned a return to the Triple-A RedHawks would be a good option.

Last season, DeFrancesco guided Oklahoma City to a 67-60 record when he was called up to replace dismissed Astros manager Brad Mills. DeFrancesco was the first manager in Oklahoma City baseball history to take over a big-league club during the regular season.

The Astros also announced Monday they have hired Eduardo Perez as bench coach and Dennis Martinez as bullpen coach.

Martinez was a pitching coach in the St. Louis Cardinals system for the last six seasons. He was a four-time All-Star and threw a perfect game in a playing career from 1976-98. Perez is the manager of the Colombian team in the World Baseball Classic. He recently worked as hitting coach for the Marlins. The first baseman spent parts of 13 seasons in the majors as a player.