Published: November 29, 2008 12:01 pm      

San Antonio Missions name new manager

Minor League Baseball

San Antonio — San Diego Padres Vice President/Scouting and Player Development, Grady Fuson, recently announced that former Major League All-Star, Terry Kennedy, will be the new San Antonio Missions Manager for the 2009 season. Replacing Kennedy as hitting coach will be Orv Franchuk.

Former catcher and four-time Major League All-Star, Kennedy will take over the reigns as the Missions new skipper in 2009. Kennedy served as the Missions hitting coach in 2008 and his most recent managing experience was for the Independent San Diego Surf Dawgs of the Golden Baseball League in 2005, where he earned Manager of the Year honors in their inaugural season. 

Before the Surf Dawgs, Kennedy spent six seasons as a manager in the Minor Leagues with four organizations, Los Angeles Dodgers (2004), Chicago Cubs (1997-1999), Montreal Expos (1994) and St. Louis Cardinals (1993). He was named Baseball America’s Manager of the Year in 1998 with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.

Kennedy was a first-round draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1977 out of Florida State University. He played 14 seasons in the Major Leagues with four different clubs, St. Louis Cardinals (1978-1980), San Diego Padres (1981-1986), Baltimore Orioles (1987-1988) and the San Francisco Giants (1989-1991).  He was named to Major League All-Star Team in 1981, 1983, 1985, and 1987 and was awarded the 1983 Silver Slugger Award as the best hitting catcher in the National League. During the span of 1981-1987, only Hall of Fame Catcher Gary Carter (940), caught more games for a major league club than Kennedy (936).   

Franchuk, 64, takes over for Kennedy as hitting coach at San Antonio in his first season in the Padres organization. He previously served two seasons as minor league hitting coordinator in the Houston Astros system (2007-08) after spending four seasons in the same role for the Boston Red Sox (2003-06). A veteran of more than 30 years in professional baseball, he served as manager for Single-A Vancouver (2002), as roving hitting and catching coordinator (1998-2001) and as hitting coach for Triple-A Edmonton (1995-97) all in the Oakland Athletics organization. 

He spent seven seasons as a scout and hitting coach in the California Angels system (1988-94) and eight seasons as a scout for the Cincinnati Reds (1977-84). In addition, the Canada native was a coach for the Canadian National Team at the 1977, 1980 and 1981 World Baseball Championships.