The Giants are finalizing a deal to make Tony Vitello their next manager, according to a report by ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Jeff Passan on Wednesday. The club has not confirmed the news.
The 47-year-old Vitello, who has been the head coach at the University of Tennessee since the 2018 season, is set to become the first college coach to serve as a Major League manager without any prior coaching experience at the professional level.
Prior to Vitello’s arrival at Tennessee, the Volunteers had gone more than a decade without an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Vitello has helped turn the program around, culminating with its first national championship in 2024 — Tennessee’s third men’s College World Series berth in four seasons.
The Giants have a lot of ties to the Volunteers program already. Their first-round pick (13th overall) in the 2025 Draft, Gavin Kilen, was a star infielder at Tennessee. The Giants’ fourth-round pick in ’23, shortstop Maui Ahuna, came out of Tennessee. And two players whom the Giants acquired at this year’s Trade Deadline for reliever Tyler Rogers — outfielder Drew Gilbert and right-hander Blade Tidwell, were Volunteers drafted in the first and second rounds, respectively, in ’22.
Other candidates who have been linked to the Giants’ managerial opening include former Giants catcher Nick Hundley, Guardians associate manager Craig Albernaz, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa and former catcher Kurt Suzuki, who was named manager of the Angels on Tuesday.
Whoever fills the job will be replacing Bob Melvin, who was dismissed on Sept. 29 after two seasons at the helm in San Francisco. The club had a 161-163 record under his watch and missed the playoffs each season.
