With spring training just around the corner, the San Francisco Giants are still keeping fans and media alike waiting on a full coaching staff announcement - and the silence is starting to raise some eyebrows.
Right now, if you head over to the Giants’ official website, the only name listed under the coaching staff is new manager Tony Vitello. That’s it.
No pitching coach, no hitting coach, no base coaches - just Vitello. And while he’s known for his energy and versatility, no one’s expecting him to handle all nine innings from the dugout and coach first and third base simultaneously.
Even seasoned beat reporters are puzzled. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle noted that the team still isn’t quite ready to reveal the full staff, despite multiple inquiries. And with pitchers and catchers reporting soon, the delay is hard to ignore.
To be fair, many of the names expected to join Vitello’s staff have already been reported. It seems the holdup may be less about who’s coming aboard and more about ironing out roles and titles. Still, for a team looking to reset its identity, this kind of ambiguity isn’t ideal.
Here’s what we do know: Ron Washington is expected to coach the infield - a crucial role considering the Giants recently added Luis Arraez, whose glove work at second base could use some polish. Washington, of course, has decades of experience and could also reprise his familiar role as third base coach, just as he did with the Braves.
Justin Meccage is reportedly set to take over as pitching coach, with Frank Anderson - Vitello’s longtime pitching coach at Tennessee - also joining the staff in a pitching instructor capacity. That duo brings a mix of big-league experience and collegiate chemistry, which could be a key asset in developing the Giants’ young arms.
Veteran reliever Jesse Chavez is expected to transition into the bullpen coach role. He knows what it takes to survive and thrive in a major league bullpen, and that kind of firsthand experience can be invaluable in a long season.
On the offensive side, Hunter Mense is coming over from the Blue Jays to serve as hitting coach. He’ll be joined by Oscar Bernard, one of the few holdovers from the previous staff, who will assist in that department. Mense brings a modern, data-informed approach, while Bernard offers continuity - a nice balance for a lineup looking to find its identity.
Jayce Tingler is reportedly set to serve as bench coach or possibly take on an associate manager title. His connection with Vitello runs deep, and having a trusted voice next to the skipper in his first MLB managerial gig makes a lot of sense.
But here’s where things still get murky: there’s been no confirmation on who will handle first and third base coaching duties - two critical roles, especially when it comes to in-game decision-making and player development. For a club that’s trying to turn the corner, those positions matter.
At some point, the Giants will make it official. But the longer the delay, the more questions it raises.
This is a team that made some meaningful offseason moves, and there’s optimism that the roster has improved. But if the coaching staff isn’t dialed in and ready to elevate the talent on hand, the Giants risk spinning their wheels once again.
The pieces are coming together - just not as quickly or clearly as fans might hope.