Tommy Raffo

Last updated
Tommy Raffo
Biographical details
Born (1967-12-22) December 22, 1967 (age 56)
Playing career
1987–1990 Mississippi State
1990 Miami Miracle
1991 Charleston Wheelers
1992 Cedar Rapids Reds
1993 St. Paul Saints
Position(s) First baseman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1994–2008Mississippi State (asst.)
2009–2024 Arkansas State
Head coaching record
Overall381–459–2
TournamentsSun Belt: 17–16
NCAA: 0–0
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
  • Second Team All-SEC (1988)
  • 2× First Team All-SEC (1989, 1990)
  • Sun Belt Coach of the Year (2012)

Thomas G. Raffo (born December 22, 1967) is an American college baseball coach and former first baseman. Raffo is the former head coach of the Arkansas State Red Wolves baseball team.

Contents

Amateur career

Raffo attended Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Florida. He was named a First Team All-Florida Class AAA. [1] He was drafted in the 34th round of the 1986 Major League Baseball draft by the Baltimore Orioles, but he decided not to sign. Raffo then accepted a scholarship to play at Mississippi State University, to play college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team.

As a sophomore in 1988, Raffo was named Second Team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC).

As a junior in 1989, Raffo batted .383 with a 22 home runs and 80 RBIs. He was named First Team All-SEC.

As a senior in 1990, he batted .358 with 13 home runs and 69 RBIs. He was again named First Team All-SEC.

Professional career

Raffo was drafted in the 8th round (209th overall) by the Miami Miracle in the 1990 Major League Baseball draft. [2]

Raffo began his professional career with the Miracle of the Class A Florida State League, where he batted .258 with three home runs.

Raffo played 1991 season with the Charleston Wheelers of the Class A South Atlantic League as a member of the Cincinnati Reds organization. He batted .277 with 13 home runs and 68 RBIs in 133 games.

In 1992, he played with the Cedar Rapids Reds of the Midwest League. He batted .302 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs during the season. He signed with the St. Paul Saints to play the 1993 season. He hit .321 with 20 RBIs in 48 games.

Coaching career

In 1994, Raffo was named a volunteer assistant at Mississippi State. In the fall of 1997, he was promoted to a full-time assistant. [3] In 2008, Raffo was being considered for the head coaching position at Mississippi State, but when the team decided to go with John Cohen, [4] he was named the head coach for the Arkansas State Red Wolves baseball program. [5]

Raffo lead the Red Wolves to their best finish in Sun Belt Conference history going 19–9 finishing 2nd. As a result, he was named the 2012 Sun Belt Coach of the Year. [6]

On May 29, 2024, Arkansas State Athletics and Vice Chancelor for Intercollegiate Athletics Jeff Purinton announced there would be a change in leadership for the Arkansas State baseball program and that Raffo would not return. [7]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Arkansas State Red Wolves (Sun Belt Conference)(2009–2024)
2009 Arkansas State 23–3012–189th
2010 Arkansas State 30–2816–148th Sun Belt Tournament
2011 Arkansas State 27–31–113–16–17th Sun Belt Tournament
2012 Arkansas State 34–2319–92nd Sun Belt Tournament
2013 Arkansas State 28–3112–188th Sun Belt Tournament
2014 Arkansas State 32–2718–123rd Sun Belt Tournament
2015 Arkansas State 27–3012–178th Sun Belt Tournament
2016 Arkansas State 28–3013–178th Sun Belt Tournament
2017 Arkansas State 28–2713–163rd (West) Sun Belt Tournament
2018 Arkansas State 20–3211–19T-4th (West) Sun Belt Tournament
2019 Arkansas State 26–2911–206th (West)
2020 Arkansas State 7–90–0(West)Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021 Arkansas State 19–3010–145th (West) Sun Belt Tournament
2022 Arkansas State 11–385–2412th
2023 Arkansas State 20–309–196th (West)
2024 Arkansas State 21–32–17–22–114th
Arkansas State:381–459–2181–255–2
Total:381–459–2

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

Related Research Articles

Pat McMahon is an American former college and professional baseball coach who currently works in the New York Yankees' organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball</span> American intercollegiate baseball squad

The Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball team representing Mississippi State University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The program is a member of the West Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The current head coach is Chris Lemonis. They have appeared in the College World Series 12 times, winning their first national championship in their most recent appearance in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitch Canham</span> American baseball player and coach

Mitchell Dean Canham is an American baseball coach and former catcher. He is currently the Pat Casey Head Baseball Coach at Oregon State University and previously served as the manager of the Clinton LumberKings, Modesto Nuts and the Arkansas Travelers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas State Red Wolves</span> Athletic teams representing Arkansas State University

The Arkansas State Red Wolves are the athletic teams of Arkansas State University. They are a member of the Sun Belt Conference in all sports except women's bowling, a sport not sponsored by that league, competing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level. As of the next NCAA bowling season in 2023–24, the bowling team will compete in Conference USA, which absorbed the single-sport Southland Bowling League after the 2022–23 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitch Moreland</span> American baseball player (born 1985)

Mitchell Austin Moreland, nicknamed "2-Bags", is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, and Oakland Athletics. Moreland attended Mississippi State University and was drafted by the Rangers as a first baseman and outfielder in the 17th round of the 2007 MLB draft. Listed at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and 230 pounds (100 kg), Moreland both batted and threw left-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James McCann (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1990)

James Thomas McCann is an American professional baseball catcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, and New York Mets.

Alexander Wyatt Yarbrough is an American former minor league baseball player in the Miami Marlins organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Benintendi</span> American baseball player (born 1994)

Andrew Sebastian Benintendi is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, and New York Yankees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Rooker</span> American baseball player (born 1994)

Terry Brent Rooker Jr. is an American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2020 with the Minnesota Twins and has also played for the San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals. He was selected to the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

David Cochran Miller is an American college baseball coach and former first baseman who will be in his second tenure as head baseball coach of the La Salle Explorers starting in 2026. He previously served as the head coach for La Salle from 2018 until 2021 and the Penn State Abington Nittany Lions (2022). He then served as head coach at Manhattan from 2023–2024.

Johnny Ray Cardenas is an American college baseball coach and former catcher. Cardenas is the former head coach of the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks baseball team.

Christopher Michael Curry is an American college baseball coach and former catcher. Curry is the head coach of the Little Rock Trojans baseball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Braden Shewmake</span> American baseball player (born 1997)

Braden Jack Shewmake is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Atlanta Braves selected Shewmake with the 21st overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut with them in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Mangum</span> American baseball player

Jake Thomas Mangum is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He played college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grae Kessinger</span> American baseball player (born 1997)

Graeber Crawley Kessinger is an American professional baseball infielder for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seth Brown (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1992)

Seth William Brown is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman in the Oakland Athletics organization. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casey Martin (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1999)

Noah Casey Martin is an American professional baseball shortstop in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Martin was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the third round of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft after playing college baseball at Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heston Kjerstad</span> American baseball player (born 1999)

Heston Sawyer Kjerstad is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Orioles selected Kjerstad in the first round of the 2020 MLB draft and he made his MLB debut on September 14, 2023.

Logan Layne Tanner is an American professional baseball catcher in the Cincinnati Reds organization.

Trent John Pratt is a baseball coach and former catcher, who is the current head baseball coach of the BYU Cougars. He played college baseball at Arizona State from 1999 to 200 before transferring to Auburn where he played in 2001 and 2002 before playing professionally from 2002 to 2005..

References

  1. ↑ "Two Hoboes make prep All-State team". www.newspaperarchive.com. NewspaperARCHIVE.com. May 29, 1986. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  2. ↑ "2018 Mississippi State Bulldogs Baseball Media Guide" (PDF). www.hailstate.com. Mississippi State University. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Coaches & Staff" (PDF). www.msstate_ftp.sidearmsports.com. Mississippi State. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Baseball Press Conference Transcript - June 7, 2008". www.hailstate.com. Mississippi State University Athletics. June 7, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Raffo Named Head Baseball Coach at Arkansas State". www.astateredwolves.com. Arkansas State University. July 1, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Jacob Lee named Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year, Tommy Raffo gets Coach of the Year honors". www.kait8.com. KAIT. May 22, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  7. ↑ Whaley, Logan; Hudgison, Chris (May 29, 2024). "Tommy Raffo to not return as Arkansas State head baseball coach". KAIT . Retrieved May 29, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.