Walt Jocketty (born February 19, 1951) is an American baseball executive who is the Executive Adviser to the CEO of the Cincinnati Reds . Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota , he attended the University of Minnesota where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration. He was the General Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals from October 14, 1994 until October 3, 2007 .
30-824: Juan Ramón Francisco González (born June 24, 1987) is a Dominican professional baseball first baseman . He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds , Atlanta Braves , Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays . He also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants . Francisco spent his first professional season, with the Gulf Coast League Reds . He batted .280 in 182 at-bats with three home runs, and enjoyed
60-530: A nine-game call up at the season's end to the rookie–level Billings Mustangs , where he went 12-for-36 (.333). Francisco spent 2007 with the single-A Dayton Dragons . He hit .268 in 534 at-bats, slugging 25 home runs and driving in 90. Juan was a Midwest League mid-season All-Star and post-season All-Star for the Dragons. Promoted again in 2008, this time to the High–A Sarasota Reds , he again spent
90-705: Is often applied as an umbrella term for all leagues — major and minor — under the authority of the Commissioner of Baseball . Operating outside the Minor League Baseball organization are many independent minor leagues such as the Atlantic League , American Association , Frontier League , and the feeder league to these the Empire Professional Baseball League . Japan has had professional baseball since
120-609: Is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada consists of the National League (founded in 1876) and the American League (founded in 1901). Historically, teams in one league never played teams in
150-504: The China National Baseball League , Israel Baseball League , and Baseball Philippines . During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, players of black African descent were barred from playing the major leagues , though several did manage to play by claiming to be Cubans or Native Americans . As a result, a number of parallel Negro leagues were formed. However, after Jackie Robinson began playing with
180-657: The Dominican Winter Baseball League . In 40 games for the team, he .360 with 37 RBI, and his 12 home runs set the DWL record for regular season homers by a left-handed hitter. He continued to produce in the playoffs, hitting six more homers and 18 more RBI. His performance earned him the DWL Rookie of the Year accolade. On November 20, 2008, Reds added Francisco to their 40-man roster to protect him from
210-690: The Hanshin Tigers took place on May 2. Francisco hit an RBI single that helped the Giants win a 1–0 shutout. After sitting out the 2016 season, Francisco signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles on February 14, 2017. He did not appear in a game for the organization and was released by the Orioles on May 16. On June 6, 2017, Francisco signed with the Leones de Yucatán of
240-576: The Mexican League . In 41 games he slashed .277/.330/.465 with 7 home runs and 30 RBI. On January 31, 2020, Francisco signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League . He did not play in a game for the team due to the cancellation of the season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic . Francisco was released by Oaxaca on June 5. Professional baseball Professional baseball
270-671: The Oakland Athletics beginning in March 1980, when he was hired by owner Charlie Finley as Director of Minor League Operations and Scouting. It was in this capacity that Jocketty took a lead role in overhauling the A's minor league system, and was also instrumental in founding the Arizona Rookie League and the Dominican Summer League . Less than five years into his time with Oakland, Jocketty
300-641: The Rule 5 draft . Originally a switch-hitter , Francisco abandoned hitting right-handed in 2009 to become a full-time lefty. Juan began the year in Double–A Carolina . He played in 109 games for the Mudcats, where he hit .281 with 22 home runs and 78 RBI in 437 at-bats. For the third year in a row he earned mid- and post-season All-Star recognition, this time in the Southern League . He was promoted to
330-551: The designated hitter . Francisco enjoyed early success as a member of the Blue Jays, but his inability to hit the breaking ball reduced his effectiveness, and then his playing time. He finished the 2014 season batting .220 with 16 home runs and 43 RBI, but struck out 116 times in 287 at-bats. On November 19, 2014, Francisco was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox . He was designated for assignment on November 25, but
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#1732772164700360-700: The 1930s. Nippon Professional Baseball consists of two leagues, the Central League and the Pacific League , each with six teams. South Korea has had professional baseball since 1982. There are 10 teams in KBO League . Taiwan has had professional baseball since the 1990s. The Chinese Professional Baseball League absorbed Taiwan Major League in 2003. There are currently 6 teams in the CPBL. Other Asian leagues include three now defunct leagues,
390-626: The Braves came at third base on April 7, 2012, against the New York Mets . Francisco entered 2013 as the replacement for the recently retired Chipper Jones at third base, along with Chris Johnson . On April 16, 2013, Francisco had his first career multi-homer game in a 6–3 win over the Kansas City Royals . On May 8, Francisco hit his first career grand slam against Reds pitcher J. J. Hoover (who he had been traded for). Francisco
420-677: The Executive of the Year in MLB three times, in 2000, 2004, & 2010. Jocketty was fired by the Cardinals organization on October 3, 2007. Team owner Bill DeWitt cited divisiveness in the baseball operations front office as the reason for Jocketty's dismissal. Jocketty was hired as a Special Adviser to the Cincinnati Reds on January 11, 2008. Jocketty's role was to advise and assist the team in their baseball operations which includes
450-550: The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, oversees nearly all minor league baseball in the United States and Canada. The minor leagues are divided into classes AAA, AA, High-A, A, and Rookie. These minor-league divisions are affiliated with major league teams, and serve to develop young players and rehabilitate injured major-leaguers. "Affiliated baseball" (archaically, " organized baseball ")
480-800: The Triple–A Louisville Bats . He played in 22 games, getting 92 at-bats, and hit .359 with 5 homers and 19 RBI. Juan again earned a promotion, this time to the Cincinnati Reds . Francisco made his debut for the Reds as part of a 3–1 win over the Houston Astros on September 14, 2009, at Great American Ball Park . Pinch hitting for left fielder Darnell McDonald in the seventh inning, Francisco faced pitcher Jeff Fulchino and struck out in his first Major League at bat . He finished his September call-up batting .429 (9-for-21) with his first career big-league homer and seven RBI. Francisco
510-492: The entire season with the same team. In 516 at-bats, he hit .277 with 23 homers and 92 RBI. Francisco earned All-Star status again, for both the mid-season and post-season in the Florida State League . In addition, he was selected to play in the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Futures Game . Francisco was named Reds' Minor League Hitter of the Year for 2008. Juan played winter ball for Gigantes del Cibao of
540-410: The front office, personnel, scouting, minor and international operations and training and medical services. He was named the next general manager of the Reds after Wayne Krivsky was fired April 23, 2008. After the 2010 season, Jocketty was named Sporting News Executive Of Year. After the 2015 season, he was named to the new position of president of baseball operations . On December 27, 2016, he
570-684: The major-league Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, the Negro leagues gradually faded. The process of integration did not go entirely smoothly; there were some ugly incidents, including pitchers who would try to throw directly at a black player's head. Now, however, baseball is fully integrated, and there is little to no racial tension between teammates. Between 1943 and 1954, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League fielded teams in several Midwestern towns. Walt Jocketty Jocketty began working for
600-612: The more conventional number 25. On September 12, 2011, Francisco hit a home run off Chicago Cubs pitcher Rodrigo López that cleared the right field bleachers at Great American Ball Park . It was estimated to have gone 502 feet. It was the second longest home run in Great American Ballpark history behind Adam Dunn's 535 ft home run in 2004. On April 1, 2012, Francisco was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for pitcher J. J. Hoover . His debut for
630-644: The new ownership chose to retain Jocketty. He was instrumental in bringing new manager Tony La Russa , whom he had worked with in Oakland, to St. Louis. During his time as Cardinal GM, the Cardinals compiled seven National League Central Division championships (1996, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006), two National League Championships (2004 and 2006), and one World Series Championship (2006). The Cardinals had seven straight winning seasons under Jocketty, including 100+ win seasons in 2004 and 2005. Jocketty has been named
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#1732772164700660-570: The other until the World Series , in which the champions of the two leagues played against each other. This changed in 1997 with the advent of interleague play . The Philadelphia Phillies , founded in 1883, are the oldest continuous same-name, same-city franchise in both Major League Baseball and all of American professional sports. In addition to the major leagues, many North American cities and towns feature minor league teams. An organization officially styled Minor League Baseball , formerly
690-502: The season, Francisco won his second consecutive DWL MVP award. This and his other trips to the DWL playoffs, which are taken very seriously in the Dominican Republic, have given Juan post-season experience which he can bring with him to the big leagues. Francisco made the club out of spring training in 2011 as a backup to Scott Rolen , backup left fielder, and a left-handed bat off the bench. He switched his number from 64 to
720-611: The smallest third, being used more often as a pinch-hitter. In 124 total games, he hit .227/.296/.412 with 18 HR and 48 RBI. He was released on March 24, 2014. On April 1, 2014, the Toronto Blue Jays signed Francisco to a minor league contract, and assigned him to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons . His contract was purchased by the Blue Jays on April 19, when Maicer Izturis was transferred to the 60-day disabled list, and he made his Blue Jays debut that day as
750-662: The title of 2009 DWL Most Valuable Player. Francisco spent 2010 mainly with the Louisville Bats . Ironically, in his best statistical season to date, he was not named to any All-Star roster for the first time in four years. For the Bats, he played in 77 games and hit .286 in 308 at-bats, slugging 18 homers and 59 RBI in his shortened season. He spent the rest of the season with the Reds, and saw action in 36 games. He hit .273 with one homer and seven RBI in 55 at-bats. He played winter ball with Cibao again, and continued to be one of
780-437: The top players. In 39 games and 152 at-bats, he hit .322 with 8 homers and 30 RBI. They lost in the championship game again, but this time without Francisco, who fouled a pitch off his leg under his right knee on December 10 and missed the rest of the season. He was hospitalized when it became infected and inflamed and the knee had to be drained, but Walt Jocketty , Reds GM, said that it was nothing serious. Despite missing part of
810-483: Was again named Minor League Hitter of the Year, and Baseball America rated him the organization's best power hitter and best infield arm. He headed back to the Gigantes for the 2009–10 DWL season. He played in 46 games this time, batting .302 with 11 doubles, 11 homers, and 42 RBI. The Gigantes were runners-up in the playoffs, and in 22 games of post-season play he hit 3 home runs with 18 RBI. This performance earned him
840-588: Was designated for assignment by the Braves on May 30 to make room on the roster for Alex Wood . At that point, Johnson won the starting third base job for himself. In 35 games with Atlanta, Francisco hit .241/.287/.398 with 5 HR and 16 RBI. On June 3, 2013, Francisco was traded by the Braves to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league pitcher Tom Keeling. He split first base duties with Yuniesky Betancourt until around mid-August, when Jonathan Lucroy and Sean Halton got more starts, with Francisco getting
870-533: Was non-tendered and became a free agent. On January 10, 2015, Francisco signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays . After failing to make the 25-man roster out of spring training, Tampa Bay attempted to send Francisco to Triple-A Durham Bulls , however he exercised an opt-out clause in his contract on April 5 and became a free agent. On April 21, 2015, Francisco signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball . His NPB debut against
900-513: Was promoted to Director of Baseball Administration, a post he held the remainder of his time in Oakland. During the 1994 season Jocketty served the Colorado Rockies for a brief stint as their assistant general manager of player personnel. Walt Jocketty was hired as general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals on October 14, 1994. When Anheuser-Busch sold the team following the 1995 season,
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