The San Francisco Giants made a bold move by hiring one of college baseball's top names as manager. Tony Vitello coached from 2002-2017 with Salinas Packers, Missouri, TCU, and Arkansas, then turned Tennessee into a powerhouse after becoming head coach in 2018.
Led by Bob Melvin over the past couple of seasons, the Giants haven't finished with a record above.500 since shockingly winning the NL West in 2021. Their roster is filled with a cache of notable players and veterans, which made the hire of a manager with a winning track record paramount.
Vitello's track record speaks for itself. In his second season, Tennessee achieved its first 40-win season and first NCAA tournament appearance since 2005. He led the Volunteers to the College World Series in 2021, 2023, and 2024, claiming the school's first baseball National Championship in the latter season.
Transitioning to the MLB stage, Vitello addressed a new challenge during an interview with MLB Network: handling a clubhouse with "no fewer than five countries" represented on the 40-man roster. As a manager, it's crucial to ensure your point gets across and that discussions don't get lost in translation.
Tony Vitello on transitioning from managing a college roster to an MLB roster with international players:
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 19, 2025
“There's nothing I love more than just finding out, educating myself about different cultures and seeing different places.” Pic.twitter.com/xza98FdqSw
To meet these challenges, he explains how he's built a well-rounded, diverse staff. His positive view of different cultures should energize the Giants' fanbase. He said, "There's nothing I love more than just finding out, educating myself about different cultures, and seeing different places."
Vitello is also known for his deep baseball knowledge and fandom, so it'll be interesting to see how he interacts with MLB's superstars. Even though Vitello is new to the major leagues, the Giants have found themselves a manager who lives and breathes baseball and has shown success in developing a team from the ground up.
Looking ahead, the Giants have a solid lineup led by Rafael Devers and Matt Chapman, while Logan Webb and Robbie Ray anchor the pitching staff. The roster is built to contend in the stout NL West, and it'll be interesting to see how president of baseball operations Buster Posey approaches the offseason.