MONARCH’S MANAGER WILL BE A FAMILIAR FACE

Kansas City Monarchs Extend Joe Calfapietra Contract Through 2024

Photo credit John Ellis Kansas City Monarchs

LEGENDS FIELD (Kansas City, Kansas October 19, 2022) – The Kansas City Monarchs and manager Joe Calfapietra have agreed to a contract extension through the 2024 season. Club Owner Mark Brandmeyer made the announcement.

“We are pleased to extend the contract for the American Association Manager of the Year today” said Brandmeyer. “Our organization is built on family and community and since purchasing the ballclub it was clear to us that Joe was going to contribute to our success in both areas as well as award winning baseball. His energy, passion and baseball intelligence have resulted in post season participation our last three seasons and a league championship in 2018 and in 2021. We are confident in Joe’s drive, skillset, and ability to sign talented players to develop and lead our team to the championship year after year.”

The 2018 and 2021 American Association Manager of the Year, Calfapietra begins his fifth season with the Monarchs after leading the team to the American Association championship in 2018 and 2021. With five straight winning seasons (Franchise had never had back to back) he took over as the winningest manager in franchise history this season. With three straight playoff appearances and best record this year despite number of players sold, Calfapietra has guided Kansas City to a 246-153 record and a .617 winning percentage – the winningest Manager in franchise history. Calfapietra celebrated his 1,000th victory as a Manager with a win in Saint Paul in a 5-2 victory over the Saints on July 29, 2019.

In the past three seasons, Calfapietra has sent forty-six ballplayers to major league teams or affiliates including Christian Colon, Akeem Bostick, Peter Mooney, Alex Powers, Jan Hernandez, John Walter, Johnny Hellweg, Whit Mayberry, Jose Mesa Jr., Andrew DiPiazza, Jordan George, Robert Calvano, Art Charles, Eric Stout, and Johnny Davis.

Calfapietra has had nine of his players play at the Major League level including Akeem Bostick, Jonny Davis, Robert Stock, John Lindsey, Craig Breslow, Stewart Pomeranz, Tim Adleman, Raul Valdes, and Jose Cisnero.

Calfapietra spent fourteen seasons with the New Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am League. The league’s 2012 and 2009 Manager of the Year, he led the Jackals to a 728-595 (.550) record and six appearances in the league championship series. Calfapietra was also the Northern League Manager of the year 2004 & 2002.

“My family and I are extremely grateful and honored for the opportunity to continue my career in Kansas City for at least the next three seasons. I would like to thank Mr. Brandmeyer and the entire organization for having the confidence in me to run the baseball operations department” said Calfapietra. “We look forward to seeing everyone soon. The coaching staff and I work extremely hard, and we are proud of our accomplishments in Kansas City in a noticeably abbreviated period of time. I look forward to proudly wearing the Monarchs uniform and the future accomplishments of the ballclub”.

The Monarchs are a member of the American Association of Professional Baseball and play all home games at Legends Field, located at 1800 Village West Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas.