Baseball
- Title:
- Director of Operations - Catchers
- Email:
- franciscot25@ecu.edu
- Phone:
- (252) 737-1980
In his previous position, Francisco directed all aspects of team travel, budgeting, equipment operations and daily administrative responsibilities while coordinating recruiting visits, alumni engagement and camps. He also led the development of the Pirate catchers, overseeing instruction in receiving, blocking, throwing, game management and leadership. Â
Under Francisco's guidance, Walker Barron became the first ECU catcher since 2019 to earn selection to the Buster Posey Award Midseason Watch List. Â
Prior to serving as Director of Baseball Operations, Francisco spent the 2024-25 season as a Graduate Manager, assisting with the development of infielders and hitters while supporting daily baseball operations, recruiting efforts and scouting preparation. Â
Francisco, who was selected in the 19th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals and spent three seasons in the organization, served the Pirates this past campaign as a graduate assistant manager.Â
As a player at ECU, Francisco earned 2021 All-American Athletic Conference Second Team accolades while hitting a career .348 (134-for-345) with 18 home runs and 81 RBI. He helped the Pirates win a pair of AAC regular season titles (2019, 2021) and was part of an East Carolina club that won a then league-record 20 games, earned a national seed and captured the NCAA Greenville Regional championship both of those years.
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A Preseason All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2021, Francisco made his final year in the Purple and Gold his best. He was one of three players to start all 61 games, splitting time at first base, left field and in the designated hitter role, while ranking second in the league in batting average (.354) and hits (87). Francisco also tied current Miami Marlins infielder Connor Norby in runs scored (64) and at bats (264), also adding 13 home runs and 11 doubles to his ledger.
