Overview
- Vitello, 47, was formally unveiled at Oracle Park as the Giants’ 40th manager, becoming the first sitting college head coach hired directly to lead an MLB team and arriving with no big-league playing or coaching experience.
- Calling the opportunity “a very recent dream,” Vitello acknowledged unknowns about translating his style to a 162‑game season and said he will start offseason work immediately.
- Posey and GM Zack Minasian cited Vitello’s leadership and culture-building, noting he was hard to reach because he kept recruiting at Tennessee and that Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy offered positive feedback during the process.
- The Giants are covering roughly a $3 million Tennessee buyout, and Vitello’s reported contract is three years at about $3.5 million annually with a vesting fourth year, with one report noting 2026 manager costs total $10.5 million including Bob Melvin’s payout.
- Vitello said he will lean on veteran leaders such as Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Logan Webb as he adapts from the college game, following an 81‑81 Giants season that ended with Melvin’s dismissal.