After firing Bob Melvin last fall, the Giants couldn’t have found a more different manager in Tony Vitello to be his replacement.
Melvin is a former Giants player who grew up in the Bay Area and had two decades of MLB managing experience before being hired by San Francisco. On the other hand, Vitello — with practically zero local connections — hadn’t played or coached in MLB prior to making the leap from head coach at the University of Tennessee.
In an interview with John Shea of The San Francisco Standard, Melvin shared his thoughts from afar on the Giants’ new hire.
“It makes sense that Buster wants somebody who can be around for a while and grow with,” Melvin said. “I totally understood that part. I wish him the best. It seems he’s going to be a really good fit for that team based on what I’m hearing. The guy’s got a great track record, did a lot of great things very quickly at Tennessee, knows the game really well, seems like he’s well spoken. It’s a good hire.”
Bob Melvin opens up: A Giants firing, an A’s hiring, and what comes next — I went on a trip to check in with the former manager on quite a few topics: https://t.co/kRmXA6HOUS
— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) February 21, 2026
Melvin, 64, is 17 years older than Vitello, and that age difference inevitably should bring the Giants a different type of demeanor from their manager, which Melvin appears to recognize.
After a 161-163 record across a “disappointing” two seasons under Melvin, San Francisco’s front office hopes Vitello’s new perspective could help take the team over the hump.
Meanwhile, Melvin will be taking a step back for the upcoming year, as he was hired this week by the Athletics to be a special assistant to baseball operations.
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