Tony Vitello Steps Into the Big Leagues, Building Bonds and a Staff from the Ground Up
SAN FRANCISCO - Tony Vitello is still getting used to his new surroundings. From the college dugouts of Tennessee to the big-league spotlight in San Francisco, the transition has been fast, and at times, a little surreal. But if there’s one thing that’s already clear: he’s not walking into this new chapter alone.
At the MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando, Vitello found himself in the thick of the action-surrounded by established managers, front office execs, and the buzz of baseball's offseason. When asked which manager he was hoping to connect with, he didn’t hesitate: Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers. The two already had a connection through Frank Anderson, Vitello’s longtime coaching partner who’s joining him in San Francisco, and Anderson’s son, Brett, who wrapped up his playing days in Milwaukee.
“I haven’t seen him yet,” Vitello said of Murphy, adding with a grin, “It’s been busy.”
Busy might be an understatement. Just 20 minutes later, Vitello stepped out of a conference room and quite literally ran into Murphy.
The two shared a long conversation, and before long, Dusty Baker joined the mix. Not a bad way to get introduced to the fraternity of MLB managers.
Vitello admitted with a laugh, “I don’t know what I’m doing at this thing, to be honest with you.” But it’s clear he’s already earning respect.
Several current managers made a point to introduce themselves, offer advice, and welcome him into the fold. The competition will come soon enough, but for now, there’s a sense of community-and Vitello is soaking it all in.
The Winter Meetings offered plenty of opportunities for those kinds of interactions. Whether it was scheduled events or chance encounters in hotel hallways, Vitello got a crash course in the big-league brotherhood. But while meeting fellow managers was easy, connecting with his own players is going to take a bit more legwork.
That’s why Vitello is hitting the road. He’s flying to the Dominican Republic this week, with a trip to South Korea planned for January.
The goal? Face time with key players like Willy Adames, Rafael Devers, and Jung Hoo Lee.
These aren’t just meet-and-greets-Vitello wants to build relationships, understand their routines, and see the Giants’ facilities overseas firsthand.
Since stepping into the job in October, Vitello’s had limited interaction with the current roster. Outside of former Tennessee stars Drew Gilbert and Blade Tidwell-plus a few players he once tried (and failed) to recruit-this is largely a new group for him. And while fans might assume the new skipper has had plenty of time to connect with his stars, Vitello says that’s been tougher than expected.
“I know the coaching candidates very, very well, either the ones we’ve hired or the ones we considered,” he said. “That became an all-out project on top of everything else that came with this unique transition.”
In other words, building the staff came first-and it was a full-time job. That process is finally wrapping up.
The entire coaching crew gathered for dinner this week at an Italian spot inside the Winter Meetings hotel. While the team hasn’t made an official announcement yet-some roles are still being finalized-everyone is under contract, and the work for 2026 is already underway.
For Vitello, the road ahead is unlike anything he’s done before. Most first-year MLB managers come in with years of experience as bench coaches, hitting coaches, or former big leaguers.
Vitello’s path is different. He’s coached and competed against many of today’s stars at the college level, but he’s still learning the ins and outs of the National League West-and his own clubhouse.
No one expected him to be glued to Giants-Diamondbacks games in September while running a top-tier college program. But once Gilbert and Tidwell were traded to the Giants in July, Vitello started paying closer attention. Gilbert, in particular, has been a sounding board for teammates, offering insight into what kind of manager is on the way.
Vitello, for his part, has kept communication lines open-plenty of texts and phone calls-but knows that real chemistry takes time. That’s what Spring Training in Scottsdale will be for.
“I’ve tried to be a little guarded early on,” he said. “We’re about to spend every day together for eight-plus months. There’s no value in jumping to conclusions now.”
Still, Vitello is already doing his homework. At the Winter Meetings, he was all ears in the team suite, soaking up every bit of information about players like Logan Webb and Matt Chapman. He knows that no amount of texts can replace the value of being in the same room, on the same field, day in and day out.
“It would be great if I exchanged 25 more text messages than Chappy and I have, or we’ve yet to hook up in person,” Vitello said. “But nothing is going to be like being in Spring Training and being around somebody every day.”
Those upcoming trips-to the Dominican Republic, to South Korea-won’t just help him get a head start with his roster. They’ll also scratch another itch for Vitello: travel. It’s one of his passions, right up there with baseball.
“It’s fun to experience different cultures and get to meet different people and understand where they’re coming from,” he said. “Maybe you learn something that you make a part of your own life.”
That kind of curiosity-about people, about places, about the game-is what makes Vitello such an intriguing fit for this next chapter. He’s not just trying to manage a team.
He’s trying to build something lasting, from the ground up. And in San Francisco, that journey is just getting started.