Former Arizona Wildcat and current Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona has donated $1 million to the UA baseball program, the school announced Tuesday.

The donation will target the baseball capital projects fund, including an indoor hitting facility that will be named the Terry Francona Hitting Facility.

Francona’s donation comes on the heels of a $1 million matching gift made by an anonymous donor after Arizona’s run to the College World Series finals last year. More than $300,000 has been raised via the matching program, according to a news release.

Construction on the hitting facility will begin this summer with a goal of being completed by fall. It will be located in the current footprint of the batting cages beyond the right-field wall at Hi Corbett Field.

Current projects at Hi Corbett include the installation of a new backstop and new seats near the plate. Future projects include a renovation of the home clubhouse.

We’ll have more on this story later today.


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