The New York Mets recently announced that they have named Tony Tarasco the club’s major league first base coach for 2021. Tarasco will also oversee New York’s outfielders and baserunning.
Tarasco, 50, spent the last five years as the San Diego Padres’ Minor League High Performance and Outfield/Baserunning Coordinator. In addition to that role, in 2019, he managed the Class-A Lake Elsinore Storm, leading them to the California League finals. He also managed the Charros de Jalisco in the Mexican Pacific League in 2017.
Prior to joining the Padres, Tarasco worked 10 years in the Washington Nationals organization, including the final three seasons (2013-2015) as the major league first base coach. He was Washington’s minor league outfielder/baserunning coordinator from 2011-2012 and also served stints as the hitting coach for the Class-A South Atlantic League Hagerstown Suns (2008-2010) and the short-season Single-A New York-Penn League Vermont Lake Monsters (2006-2007).
Tarasco played parts of eight seasons in the majors with the Atlanta Braves (1993-1994), Montreal Expos (1995), Baltimore Orioles (1996-1997), Cincinnati Reds (1998), New York Yankees (1999) and the Mets in 2002, where he hit .250 (24-96) with six homers and 15 RBI in 60 games. He combined to hit .240 with 46 doubles, 34 homers, 39 stolen bases and 118 RBI over 457 major league games.
Tarasco was born at the old St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village and lived in Washington Heights until he was six. He is one of 139 players who have played for both the Mets and Yankees.
Tony DeFrancesco, who was the Mets first base coach in 2020, will move to the role of Senior Advisor, Player Development and Scouting.
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