October 4th 2024.
Terry Francona, one of the most beloved managers in baseball, has decided to take a break from the game. After a year away, Francona is making a comeback with the Cincinnati Reds, a team he once played for. Last season, he stepped down as the manager of the Cleveland Guardians for health reasons, but now he's ready to get back in the game.
According to a source familiar with the situation, the Reds have not officially announced the move yet, but it is expected to be made public later this week. Francona, who won two World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox, is taking over for David Bell, who was fired by the Reds last month after six seasons with the team.
At 66 years old, Francona is excited to return to Cincinnati, where he briefly played as an outfielder in 1987. Although he only had a .227 batting average with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 102 games, he has always had a soft spot for the Reds. And it's not hard to see why - with young talent like Elly De La Cruz and a promising rotation led by Hunter Greene, the Reds are an appealing team for any manager.
Francona has a proven track record of success in developing players, as seen with All-Star third baseman José Ramírez in Cleveland. He is confident he can do the same with the young roster in Cincinnati. After leaving the Guardians, Francona spent time at his home in Arizona and kept a low profile, except for attending basketball games at his alma mater. He even returned to Cleveland briefly over the summer to help launch a new restaurant in which he has an ownership stake.
With an impressive record of 1,950 wins in his 23 years as a manager for Philadelphia, Boston, and Cleveland, Francona brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Reds. However, he has faced some challenges in recent years due to health issues. But he has made it clear that he does not consider his departure from the Guardians to be a retirement and is excited to continue his career in Cincinnati.
Like Casey Stengel and Leo Durocher, two colorful managers who also endeared themselves to fans and players, Francona has cemented himself as one of the game's best managers. His journey to success was not an easy one, with four losing seasons in Philadelphia and some controversy in Boston. But he proved his naysayers wrong by winning the World Series in his first season with the Red Sox.
After a brief hiatus, Francona took on the challenge of managing the Guardians in 2013 and quickly made an impact. In his 11 seasons with the team, he led them to the playoffs seven times and won 921 games. In 2016, the Guardians, then known as the Indians, even made it to the World Series, although they ultimately lost to the Chicago Cubs.
During his time in Cleveland, Francona became known for his quick wit and friendly personality, riding his scooter from his apartment to the ballpark every day. He had a deep connection to the organization, having played for the Indians himself in 1988 and with his father also playing for the team in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Unfortunately, Francona had to take two extended leaves of absence in 2020 due to health issues. But now, with his new role in Cincinnati, he is excited to get back to doing what he loves - managing a successful baseball team. And his hiring by the Reds comes at a great time, as the Guardians just finished the season with the second-best record in the American League under first-year manager Stephen Vogt.
Baseball Writer Jay Cohen in Chicago contributed to this report. For more MLB news, visit https://apnews.com/hub/MLB.
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