San Francisco (81-81) finished its 2025 Major League Baseball season on Sunday. The Giants fired manager Bob Melvin following the conclusion of the regular season.
The Athletic released potential manager options for the Giants’ opening, including Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello. According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, Vitello and San Francisco President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey may have already met.
Vitello has former players with the Giants.
Drew Gilbert and Blade Tidwell were traded from the Mets to San Francisco for right-handed pitcher Tyler Rogers on July 30. Tidwell was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento after being traded. He made his MLB debut on May 4 with New York.
Gavin Kilen was selected by the Giants in the first round (No. 13 overall) from Tennessee in the 2025 MLB draft.
12 former Vols who played for Vitello at Tennessee have reached MLB: Garrett Crochet, Chase Silseth, Ben Joyce, Andre Lipcius, Trey Lipscomb, Jordan Beck, Seth Halvorsen, Chase Dollander, Tidwell, Christian Moore, Chase Burns and Gilbert.
Vitello has compiled a 341–131 (125–85 SEC) record at Tennessee.
He has guided the Vols to one national championship (2024), three College World Series appearances (2021, 2023-24), two SEC regular-season championships (2022, 2024) and two SEC Tournament titles (2022, 2024). Vitello was named 2022 SEC Coach of the Year.
Tennessee and Vitello will have two fall intrasquad scrimmages ahead of the 2026 season.
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