SAN FRANCISCO — There was a time in his career when Bryce Harper was the up-and-comer who played with swagger and intensity. It was appropriate, then, that Harper became a fan and eventually a friend of Tony Vitello, whose teams at Tennessee played with that same swagger and intensity.
“He loves his team,” Harper said at Oracle Park before the Giants’ three-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies. “He has his team’s back, and I think that was one thing that I always wanted to watch more and more because he let his guys be themselves. I think that’s why they had so much success (at Tennessee). Obviously, they had great players, but you also need a coach of that caliber to be able to push you or mold you in a certain direction. At the college level, it’s huge.
“I don’t know what it takes to do that at the big league level, but I’d imagine he’s going to learn and do things and try to do it his way, but also learn to be better in whatever he can.”
Philadelphia Phillies’ first baseman Bryce Harper #3 reacts after being called out on a steal attempt after being tagged by San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez #1 in the eighth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, April 6, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Harper, a self-professed college baseball fan who was drafted No. 1 overall in 2010 out of junior college, watched as Vitello transformed Tennessee from an SEC afterthought to a national powerhouse. When Harper moved to Knoxville, Tennessee following the 2023 season, former Washington Nationals teammate Shawn Kelly introduced him to Vitello, then the Volunteers’ manager.
Vitello and Harper have since developed a close friendship. In January 2024, a photo surfaced of the two riding horses together at a ranch. That same year, Harper wore a Volunteers jersey (sent by Vitello) during the College World Series. Days later, Tennessee won its first national championship in program history.
“They were a different style of play, so I enjoyed watching them. They had a lot of guys on that team that were really good players and played with a chip on their shoulders and played the game the right way,” Harper said. “I think Tony taught them a certain way to let them be themselves, and I definitely respected that. It kind of grew into a friendship as well. Just an all-around really good person on the field and off the field.”
Vitello said Harper may have seen his own style of play in Tennessee’s players — including Drew Gilbert, who spent 39 games with the Giants last season and is at Triple-A Sacramento.
Said Vitello: “I think his dad was a fan of how things were going at Tennessee. He didn’t necessarily have a Division I college to claim as his own, so I think he became a fan of the program. And then he moved into the state of Tennessee, so it was enough dots to connect.”
San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello watches from the dugout in the first inning of their game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, April 6, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Harper, a two-time NL MVP, hasn’t just been a friend to Vitello, but a resource as well. Before the Giants’ exhibition against Team USA during spring training, Vitello told reporters that Harper made him feel welcome as he made the unprecedented leap from college to the pros.
“It’s a confidence boost, and it’s a comforting feeling, but to be honest with you, it’s functional,” Vitello said, noting that MLB managers have lent their support, too. “… Most guys (are saying), ‘I’m glad you’re in the game. You’re in the game for a reason. Here are some things to keep in mind.’ It’s a lot of little things that have piled up in my head that I think are helpful.”
Harper, a two-time NL MVP, said he wasn’t surprised by the Giants’ decision to hire Vitello, citing how president of baseball operations Buster Posey “had a niche of what he wanted, and that was Tony.” Before Monday’s game against the Phillies, Vitello shared with this news organization another piece of advice that Harper provided him: Don’t be shy.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper #3 celebrates with teammates after their 6-4 MLB win against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, April 6, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
“Be forward in your thinking and be aggressive in your actions,” Vitello said. “It makes sense, because if you watch him play, he plays unapologetically. In uniform, he is who he is. You get him out of uniform, it’s like the most low-key nicest guy you’ll ever meet.”
The Vitello era in San Francisco hasn’t gotten off to a hot start. San Francisco is 3-7 after dropping three of four to the New York Mets and hasn’t exactly played well in any facet of the game. The offense is averaging 2.6 runs per game, the fewest in baseball, while the defense has looked very sloppy. Vitello was ejected for the first time on Sunday for arguing runner interference.
Despite the Giants’ slow start, Harper expressed confidence in Vitello as he navigates his first season of professional ball.
“Everybody goes through ups and downs in the season or learns new things,” Harper said. “He’s got a lot of people around him now. He doesn’t have to be coach, GM, (name, image and likeness) — all that stuff. All he has to do is be a manager, and he’s got a great staff over there.”