Giants manager Tony Vitello struggles with transition from college to MLB

Vitello's blunt comments about coaching style and blaming players raise eyebrows in San Francisco

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:50am by Ben Kaplan

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The San Francisco Giants hired University of Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello to be their new manager this season, but Vitello's early comments and approach have raised concerns. Vitello has blamed the team's rough start on an overly passionate pre-season speech and acknowledged he can no longer "talk down" to players the way he did in college, suggesting an adjustment period as he transitions to the professional ranks.

Why it matters

The Giants took a risk hiring Vitello, who has no prior MLB managerial experience, and his early public comments indicate he may be struggling with the differences between college and professional baseball. How Vitello adapts his coaching style and communication will be crucial to the team's success and his long-term future as a big-league manager.

The details

In his first few weeks as Giants manager, Vitello has made several comments that have raised eyebrows. He blamed the team's rough start on an overly passionate pre-season speech, suggesting the players got "too excited" by his fiery words. Vitello also acknowledged he can no longer "talk down" to players the way he did in college, since many of them are close to his own age of 43. These comments imply Vitello is having difficulty adjusting his coaching style from the college level to the professional ranks.

  • Vitello made his comments about his pre-season speech and coaching style in recent press conferences.

The players

Tony Vitello

The 43-year-old former head coach of the University of Tennessee baseball team, who was hired as the new manager of the San Francisco Giants for the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“I'd kind of put it on me a little bit. I got all fire and brimstone a few days ago.”

— Tony Vitello, Giants Manager

“I can't talk down to guys anymore, they're my age — or it feels like they're close to it.”

— Tony Vitello, Giants Manager

What’s next

The Giants and their fans will be closely watching to see if Vitello can quickly adapt his coaching style and communication to the professional level. His ability to connect with and get the most out of his veteran players will be crucial to the team's success this season.

The takeaway

Vitello's early struggles to transition from the college game to the MLB highlight the challenges faced by unconventional managerial hires. The Giants are taking a risk, and Vitello will need to demonstrate he can effectively lead a professional clubhouse if he wants to keep the job long-term.