Giants Unveil Nearly Entirely New Coaching Staff Under Tony Vitello
Just days before pitchers and catchers report, the San Francisco Giants made it official: the Tony Vitello era is coming in hot with a near-complete overhaul of the coaching staff. From top to bottom, it’s a fresh-faced group with a blend of experience, player development chops, and a whole lot of energy - exactly the kind of support a first-time MLB manager making the leap from college needs.
Let’s break it down.
New Faces, New Vision
Vitello’s staff features nine new names at the big league level, including a new hitting coach in Hunter Mense and a new pitching coach in Justin Meccage. The base paths will be patrolled by Shane Robinson (first base) and Hector Borg (third base), both of whom worked with Giants minor leaguers last season - a nod to continuity and internal development.
Among the other key additions:
- Ron Washington, one of the most respected infield instructors in the game
- Frank Anderson, now serving as Director of Major League Pitching
- Christian Wonders, assistant pitching coach
- Jesse Chavez, bullpen coach and fresh off an 18-season MLB career
The holdovers from Bob Melvin’s staff include Taira Uematsu (quality control), Oscar Bernard (assistant hitting coach), Eliezer Zambrano (bullpen catcher), and Alex Burg, who’s stepping into a new hybrid role as field coordinator and catching coach.
Hitting the Reset Button at the Plate
Mense is coming off a strong season with the Toronto Blue Jays, where the offense led the majors in batting average and struck out less than almost anyone else. Those two stats aren’t just nice on paper - they speak directly to the kind of offensive identity the Giants are trying to build. With Luis Arraez now in the fold, it’s clear the front office and Vitello are prioritizing contact, discipline, and putting pressure on defenses.
Mense, who played for Vitello at Missouri, will work alongside Bernard. Notably, the Giants are moving away from the three-hitting-coach model, opting for a tighter, more focused approach this time around.
Building a Pitching Pipeline
On the pitching side, Meccage steps in for J.P. Martinez, who’s now with the Braves. Meccage brings a mix of minor and major league experience, most recently working with the Brewers’ Triple-A staff and previously serving in Pittsburgh’s big league dugout.
He’ll be supported by Frank Anderson, a name well-known in college baseball circles. Anderson was Vitello’s right-hand man at Tennessee and has a strong reputation for developing arms.
His presence, along with Wonders - a 33-year-old pitching coordinator from the Rays organization - signals a clear emphasis on pitcher development and modern analytics. Wonders also brings a personal connection to the Giants’ system, having coached Patrick Bailey and Christian Koss in the Cape Cod League.
Veteran Leadership in the Dugout
Vitello’s jump from college to the majors is rare - in fact, he’s the first to ever make that leap without prior pro experience. That’s why having voices like Jayce Tingler and Ron Washington around him is so important.
Tingler, a longtime friend and former teammate of Vitello at Missouri, brings big league managerial experience from his time with the Padres and most recently served as the Twins’ bench coach. He’ll be a critical sounding board as Vitello navigates the day-to-day grind of a 162-game season.
And then there’s Washington. The man’s résumé speaks for itself: decades of coaching experience, managerial stints in Texas and Anaheim, and a reputation as one of the best infield instructors in the game. Vitello made it clear at the Winter Meetings - even if Washington did nothing else, his infield coaching alone brings immense value.
Promoting From Within
The Giants continue their tradition of rewarding internal talent. Both Robinson and Borg are getting well-earned promotions after working with the organization’s minor leaguers.
Borg’s journey is particularly noteworthy - he signed with the Giants as an international free agent back in 2004 and has been coaching in the system since 2008. That kind of long-term investment in the organization speaks volumes about the culture the Giants are trying to build.
A Fresh Start With a Unified Vision
The entire staff gathered in Orlando a couple of months ago to align on plans for the 2026 season. While the final list took some time to lock in, Vitello emphasized that he was looking for a group that could “cover up any blind spots” and bring energy to the ballpark every day - regardless of age or background.
“Everyone has kind of got their own brand name,” Vitello said in December. “It’s still the San Francisco Giants, but this team is this year’s team and this coaching staff is this year’s coaching staff. We’re just trying to fulfill that vision.”
That vision? A mix of development, innovation, and edge - all anchored by a coaching staff that blends youthful energy with veteran savvy. It’s a bold new chapter for the Giants, and it starts with the people in the dugout.