Tony Franklin No Longer Trenton Thunder Manager

In a surprising move in the Yankees’ minor league system, the organization will re-assign Trenton Thunder manager Tony Franklin to a new position in the organization, according to the Rolling Thunder’s Dan Pfeiffer and Matt Kardos. This will effectively end Franklin’s eight-year tenure with the Yankees’ double-A affiliate.

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It was a span that started in 2007, Franklin’s first season managing a minor league team since 2000, when he was managing the Las Vegas Stars of the Pacific Coast League (San Diego Padres). It was a successful run for Franklin in New Jersey, finishing first in their division four different times and winning three Eastern League Championships. This includes 2013, when Franklin’s squad went 74-67 in the regular season, but still found a way to win the title.

However, it was a rough 2014 for the Thunder and the 64-year-old Franklin. The team went 67-75, which was the worst record in any of Franklin’s seasons.

In the article by Pfeiffer and Kardos, Franklin talks about how he hopes that this isn’t the end for him in the Yankees’ organization:

"“I do like working here. Always have liked working here, and I’m not anxious to go anyplace else right now.” (h/t Rolling Thunder)"

As of right now, the Thunder haven’t named a replacement for Franklin for next season. Plus, there is a possibility the team could lose Marcus Thames as their hitting coach when you consider Thames has interviewed for the vacant hitting coach position with the major league club.

The Yankees also made a move for another one of their farm teams earlier this offseason, when they hired Greg Colbrunn to be the hitting coach for the low-A Charleston Riverdogs. Whatever happens for Franklin, it should always be remembered as a man who has the most wins of any manager in Eastern League history with 609.