Giants manager Tony Vitello already is seeing signs of a player-driven culture forming in camp — before spring training has even officially begun.
Speaking Friday on KNBR’s Murph & Markus podcast, Vitello praised San Francisco players for arriving early and taking the initiative in offseason work, calling the turnout a reflection of clubhouse leadership and internal motivation.
Rather than mandating early arrivals, Vitello explained that players took it upon themselves to get to work — many driven by individual goals and a collective desire to rebound from last season.
“A lot of guys have just taken the initiative to be on a mission,” Vitello said. “Everybody’s got a different mission going on.”
With the calendar turning to mid-February and MLB camps beginning to open across Arizona and Florida, the Giants’ early arrivals have come even before the club’s first full workouts officially get underway.
Vitello specifically pointed to offseason defensive work already underway, including infield drills led by veteran coach Ron Washington. Players such as Luis Arráez and Bryce Eldridge have been spotted putting in early reps.
“With Arráez, he wants to play second base,” Vitello noted. “And I can only imagine what’s in the Twitter-sphere about, you know, he can’t do this or can’t do that. So, there’s your motivation if you need it.”
Arráez signed with San Francisco earlier this month, bringing a three-time MLB All-Star résumé and one of the league’s most consistent contact bats to the Giants’ infield mix.
Others simply weren’t happy with how last season unfolded.
“A lot of other guys just were not satisfied with how last year went, so they either showed up earlier or put together a new protocol in the winter,” Vitello added.
San Francisco finished the 2025 season with an 81-81 record, placing third in the NL West and missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
For a first-year manager still building relationships, the early reporting at spring training has provided valuable face time and a sense of readiness ahead of camp.
“It’s only helped me, because I’m wanting to get to know all these guys,” Vitello said. “I want to feel like we’re prepared. So far, so good in that category.”
The energy has stood out to Vitello as camp begins to take shape, and if early arrivals are any indication, the Giants are laying the groundwork for a different kind of season.
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