The San Francisco Giants did not have a season to remember. They made some good trades this season, but could not build on them and finished outside the postseason spot by 2 games. At one point, they were neck to neck with the Dodgers, but did not stick for very long. And Buster Posey knew he needed to make some changes. The first one came after Bob Melvin was shown the door as a manager. Now there are some new updates about his replacement.

The rumors are that the San Francisco Giants are going to hire Tennessee coach Tony Vitello as their new manager. The Athletic wrote, “Sources confirmed that the Giants are closing in on hiring Tony Vitello, a 47-year-old Division I head coach who transformed the University of Tennessee from a bottom-feeder in the Southeastern Conference into one of the most talented programs in the country.”

Tony Vitello’s rise through the college ranks has been fast, intense, and built on results. Since taking over Tennessee in 2018. He has led the Volunteers to a 341–131 record and three College World Series appearances. In 2024, he guided them to their first National Championship, solidifying his place among the most successful coaches in Division I baseball.

That connection now stretches west to San Francisco, where several of his former players are wearing orange and black. The Giants’ organization already includes Drew Gilbert, Blade Tidwell, and Maui Ahuna, along with 2024 first-round pick Gavin Kilen. All four played under Vitello at Tennessee, giving San Francisco an immediate bridge between his past and the team’s future.

The potential hire signals a striking new direction under Buster Posey’s leadership. Vitello, 47, has no professional coaching or playing experience, a rarity in Major League Baseball. When asked about the reports, he told Knox News, “Nothing is done,” choosing caution over confirmation. If finalized, the move would mark Posey’s boldest attempt yet to reshape the Giants’ culture and energy.

If this deal goes through, Buster Posey’s gamble might redefine what front-office courage looks like. Tony Vitello built Tennessee from the dirt; now he might rebuild San Francisco’s shaken confidence. If it works, the Giants won’t just win games; they’ll rewrite baseball’s unwritten hiring rules.

The manager is not the only thing the Giants should change to improve

The Giants can swap managers, shake up the dugout, and hold as many postmortems as they like, but until someone figures out how to get Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, and Willy Adames a little more help reaching base, it’s the same movie with a different director. San Francisco didn’t lack effort in 2025; it lacked traffic. And baseball without baserunners is just cardio in uniforms.

The San Francisco Giants finished 2025 outside postseason contention, posting a .311 team on-base percentage, twentieth overall. Rafael Devers led with a .347 OBP, and Matt Chapman followed with .340, showing individual effort. Despite drawing walks at a 9.2 percent rate, their overall batting average of .235 limited consistent scoring opportunities.

Compared to the Blue Jays (.333 OBP) and Brewers (.332 OBP), the Giants need better supporting hitters. Players like Willy Adames contributed with a .318 OBP, but the lineup lacked depth beyond the core. Improving on-base skills across the roster could transform scoring chances and create hope for a deeper playoff run.

Without stronger support for Devers, Chapman, and Adames, the Giants’ playoff hopes remain frustratingly stalled. Adding hitters who consistently reach base could turn San Francisco’s walks into meaningful scoring opportunities. Until that happens, the Giants will keep running in place while other teams steal victories effortlessly.