Tony Vitello hire is a bold move for Giants, Buster Posey that may just rock MLB Mike Wilson, Knoxville News Sentinel October 31, 2025 at 12:01 AM 0 Tony Vitello hire is a bold move for Giants, Buster Posey that may just rock MLB SAN FRANCISCO − Buster Posey's big move started with small moments. An amateur scout praising Tony Vitello and the Tennessee baseball program. Chatter in the San Francisco Giants' draft room about the talent stockpile in Knoxville. A chance encounter in a side stairwell at Denver's Coors Field in September.
- - Tony Vitello hire is a bold move for Giants, Buster Posey that may just rock MLB
Mike Wilson, Knoxville News Sentinel October 31, 2025 at 12:01 AM
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Tony Vitello hire is a bold move for Giants, Buster Posey that may just rock MLB
SAN FRANCISCO − Buster Posey's big move started with small moments.
An amateur scout praising Tony Vitello and the Tennessee baseball program. Chatter in the San Francisco Giants' draft room about the talent stockpile in Knoxville. A chance encounter in a side stairwell at Denver's Coors Field in September.
Those little benchmarks were enough for the Giants' president of baseball operations to text Vitello asking to set up a visit in the earliest days of his hunt for a new manager.
"I kind of said, 'Oh hell here we go, this could be something,' " Vitello said on Thursday, Oct. 30.
That is precisely what Posey is betting on.
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello speaks with MLB Network during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy on July 13, 2025.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/IaMboC1 class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello speaks with MLB Network during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy on July 13, 2025.
">Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello speaks with MLB Network during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy on July 13, 2025.
" src=https://ift.tt/IaMboC1 class=caas-img>Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello warms up his players before the start of the NCAA college baseball game against Wake Forest in the Knoxville Regional final on June 1, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/hqW89Gz class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello warms up his players before the start of the NCAA college baseball game against Wake Forest in the Knoxville Regional final on June 1, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
">Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello warms up his players before the start of the NCAA college baseball game against Wake Forest in the Knoxville Regional final on June 1, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
" src=https://ift.tt/hqW89Gz class=caas-img>University of Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman hugs Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello during the NCAA Baseball National Championship celebration in downtown Knoxville on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/38hCRHi class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
University of Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman hugs Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello during the NCAA Baseball National Championship celebration in downtown Knoxville on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
">University of Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman hugs Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello during the NCAA Baseball National Championship celebration in downtown Knoxville on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
" src=https://ift.tt/38hCRHi class=caas-img>Vols head coach Tony Vitello smiles ahead of the Knoxville homecoming parade in the team's honor after winning the baseball World Series on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/gfIrwF6 class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Vols head coach Tony Vitello smiles ahead of the Knoxville homecoming parade in the team's honor after winning the baseball World Series on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
">Vols head coach Tony Vitello smiles ahead of the Knoxville homecoming parade in the team's honor after winning the baseball World Series on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
" src=https://ift.tt/gfIrwF6 class=caas-img>Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello holds up a commemorative News Sentinel front page after Game 3 of the NCAA College World Series finals between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska on Monday, June 24, 2024.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/B6vD7sj class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello holds up a commemorative News Sentinel front page after Game 3 of the NCAA College World Series finals between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska on Monday, June 24, 2024.
">Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello holds up a commemorative News Sentinel front page after Game 3 of the NCAA College World Series finals between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska on Monday, June 24, 2024.
" src=https://ift.tt/B6vD7sj class=caas-img>Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello holds up the trophy after game three of the NCAA College World Series finals between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, on Monday, June 24, 2024.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/McdPoe1 class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello holds up the trophy after game three of the NCAA College World Series finals between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, on Monday, June 24, 2024.
">Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello holds up the trophy after game three of the NCAA College World Series finals between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, on Monday, June 24, 2024.
" src=https://ift.tt/McdPoe1 class=caas-img>Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello holds the national championship trophy after the win against the Texas A&M Aggies at Charles Schwab Field Omaha on June 24, 2024.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/dilOfzk class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello holds the national championship trophy after the win against the Texas A&M Aggies at Charles Schwab Field Omaha on June 24, 2024.
">Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello holds the national championship trophy after the win against the Texas A&M Aggies at Charles Schwab Field Omaha on June 24, 2024.
" src=https://ift.tt/dilOfzk class=caas-img>Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello signals the team during the ninth inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha on June 24, 2024.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/RDuQaq0 class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello signals the team during the ninth inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha on June 24, 2024.
">Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello signals the team during the ninth inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha on June 24, 2024.
" src=https://ift.tt/RDuQaq0 class=caas-img>Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello talks with left fielder Dylan Dreiling (8) after a run scored against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha on June 22, 2024.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/kIagQTH class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello talks with left fielder Dylan Dreiling (8) after a run scored against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha on June 22, 2024.
">Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello talks with left fielder Dylan Dreiling (8) after a run scored against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha on June 22, 2024.
" src=https://ift.tt/kIagQTH class=caas-img>Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello during practice before the NCAA College World Series finals at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska on Friday, June 21, 2024.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/1QXGuPR class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello during practice before the NCAA College World Series finals at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska on Friday, June 21, 2024.
">Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello during practice before the NCAA College World Series finals at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska on Friday, June 21, 2024.
" src=https://ift.tt/1QXGuPR class=caas-img>Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello speaks during a press conference before the NCAA College World Series finals at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska on Friday, June 21, 2024.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/mi5MAO7 class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello speaks during a press conference before the NCAA College World Series finals at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska on Friday, June 21, 2024.
">Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello speaks during a press conference before the NCAA College World Series finals at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska on Friday, June 21, 2024.
" src=https://ift.tt/mi5MAO7 class=caas-img>Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello against the Florida State Seminoles during the ninth inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha on June 14, 2024.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/4MXRWhU class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello against the Florida State Seminoles during the ninth inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha on June 14, 2024.
">Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello against the Florida State Seminoles during the ninth inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha on June 14, 2024.
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Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello before the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/TmqdYDQ class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello before the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
">Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello before the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
" src=https://ift.tt/TmqdYDQ class=caas-img>Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello is seen on the field during the home opener between Tennessee and UNC Asheville, at the newly renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/x8EN7Tl class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello is seen on the field during the home opener between Tennessee and UNC Asheville, at the newly renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024.
">Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello is seen on the field during the home opener between Tennessee and UNC Asheville, at the newly renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024.
" src=https://ift.tt/x8EN7Tl class=caas-img>
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello leaves the hotel before the NCAA Men's College World Series game between Tennessee and Stanford held at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska on Monday, June 19, 2023.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ckyMUv0 class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello leaves the hotel before the NCAA Men's College World Series game between Tennessee and Stanford held at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska on Monday, June 19, 2023.
">Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello leaves the hotel before the NCAA Men's College World Series game between Tennessee and Stanford held at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska on Monday, June 19, 2023.
" src=https://ift.tt/ckyMUv0 class=caas-img>Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello slides into Tennessee's team photo after the team defeated Southern Miss to win the Hattiesburg Super Regional and move on to Omaha for the Men's College World Series at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on Monday, June 12, 2023.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/FsqUcG5 class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello slides into Tennessee's team photo after the team defeated Southern Miss to win the Hattiesburg Super Regional and move on to Omaha for the Men's College World Series at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on Monday, June 12, 2023.
">Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello slides into Tennessee's team photo after the team defeated Southern Miss to win the Hattiesburg Super Regional and move on to Omaha for the Men's College World Series at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on Monday, June 12, 2023.
" src=https://ift.tt/FsqUcG5 class=caas-img>Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello waves to the crowd during the NCAA football match between Tennessee and Kentucky in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/XOaFqGb class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello waves to the crowd during the NCAA football match between Tennessee and Kentucky in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.
">Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello waves to the crowd during the NCAA football match between Tennessee and Kentucky in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.
" src=https://ift.tt/XOaFqGb class=caas-img>Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello makes an appearance at the ESPN College GameDay stage outside of Ayres Hall on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, Tennessee on Sept. 24, 2022. The flagship ESPN college football pregame show returned for the 10th time to Knoxville as the No. 12 Vols hosted the No. 22 Gators.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/okuUfPW class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello makes an appearance at the ESPN College GameDay stage outside of Ayres Hall on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, Tennessee on Sept. 24, 2022. The flagship ESPN college football pregame show returned for the 10th time to Knoxville as the No. 12 Vols hosted the No. 22 Gators.
">Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello makes an appearance at the ESPN College GameDay stage outside of Ayres Hall on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, Tennessee on Sept. 24, 2022. The flagship ESPN college football pregame show returned for the 10th time to Knoxville as the No. 12 Vols hosted the No. 22 Gators.
" src=https://ift.tt/okuUfPW class=caas-img>Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello (right) argues with umpires after a home run by right fielder Jordan Beck was wiped from the scoreboard after his bat was ruled illegal during the first inning of the game against Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field Friday, April 1, 2022 in Nashville.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/4u0Zdtz class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello (right) argues with umpires after a home run by right fielder Jordan Beck was wiped from the scoreboard after his bat was ruled illegal during the first inning of the game against Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field Friday, April 1, 2022 in Nashville.
">Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello (right) argues with umpires after a home run by right fielder Jordan Beck was wiped from the scoreboard after his bat was ruled illegal during the first inning of the game against Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field Friday, April 1, 2022 in Nashville.
" src=https://ift.tt/4u0Zdtz class=caas-img>Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello, Knox News Sportsperson of the Year, poses for a portrait with the team's 2021 College World Series participant trophy at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/V8Oonex class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello, Knox News Sportsperson of the Year, poses for a portrait with the team's 2021 College World Series participant trophy at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021.
">Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello, Knox News Sportsperson of the Year, poses for a portrait with the team's 2021 College World Series participant trophy at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021.
" src=https://ift.tt/V8Oonex class=caas-img>Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello disputes a call at the NCAA Baseball Tournament Knoxville Regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, June 4, 2021.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/6IraGRO class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello disputes a call at the NCAA Baseball Tournament Knoxville Regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, June 4, 2021.
">Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello disputes a call at the NCAA Baseball Tournament Knoxville Regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, June 4, 2021.
" src=https://ift.tt/6IraGRO class=caas-img>Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello approaches the mound during the college baseball game between Tennessee and Western Carolina on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/lAhgKQd class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello approaches the mound during the college baseball game between Tennessee and Western Carolina on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
">Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello approaches the mound during the college baseball game between Tennessee and Western Carolina on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
" src=https://ift.tt/lAhgKQd class=caas-img>At left, John Currie, Tennessee vice chancellor and director of athletics, shakes new University of Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello's hand at a press conference introducing him to the media, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Friday, June 9, 2017.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/pzWOP7i class=caas-img data-headline="Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants manager" data-caption="
At left, John Currie, Tennessee vice chancellor and director of athletics, shakes new University of Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello's hand at a press conference introducing him to the media, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Friday, June 9, 2017.
">At left, John Currie, Tennessee vice chancellor and director of athletics, shakes new University of Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello's hand at a press conference introducing him to the media, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Friday, June 9, 2017.
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1 / 31Tony Vitello from Tennessee baseball titan to San Francisco Giants managerTony Vitello is introduced as the new manager of the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Oct. 30, 2025.Giants take a chance, move past normal with new manager
Posey slipped a cream Giants jersey over Vitello's shoulders at Oracle Park, the pair as linked as the intertwined S and F on the black hat Vitello donned at the cost of his hair. Posey is the first man to choose a sitting college baseball coach with zero professional experience to lead an MLB franchise. Vitello is the coach who proved himself worthy of the opportunity.
"It goes back to Buster being pretty fearless and someone who is willing to take chances," Giants general manager Zack Minasian said.
It's a chance, but only inasmuch as Posey is hiring Vitello to fit into the traditional box that an MLB manager has long been held by. Nothing about Vitello suggests he is content to hand in a lineup card, make a handful of pitching decisions per game and maintain order. He's more likely to dive into McCovey Cove than be contained by conventional expectations.
The normal is not why the Giants chose him.
They're banking on him being successful as an MLB manager for the attributes that led him to rebuild a decrepit Tennessee program into a powerhouse and national champion. He's a culture-builder, a leader, a teacher, a vision-holder, a fiery competitor and — perhaps most importantly — a winner who thrives at creating trust-centered relationships.
Those traits put him on the MLB radar two years ago when a team explored hiring him, which is when Vitello embraced the dream of leading a pro franchise. It was different this time.
Vitello was firmly on the Giants' list at the start of their search to replace Bob Melvin, who was fired on Sept. 29 after going 161-163 in two seasons. His name kept standing out.
"As we started to go through it, I felt like we kept coming back to, 'This one would be really interesting and it just got even more and more interesting as we continued to speak,' " Minasian said.
Posey was affirmed at every turn in his pursuit of Vitello.
Giants see the right traits in Vitello
The former Vols coach was annoyingly hard to get in touch with because he was working so hard at Tennessee. He made enough phone calls to get glimpses of Vitello. He had Vitello call former Giants managers Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy — both of whom won World Series titles with the Giants. Both were impressed.
Posey sees Vitello as someone who can change a clubhouse in time. There's hope his dedication to teaching the game will infiltrate the organization.
"When you start lining them up, there are some (traits) that draw strong comparisons to people who have been really successful in the role right out here," said Minasian as he pointed to the dugout.
Vitello answered a long list of expected questions in his introduction, ranging from how he will handle the length of an MLB season compared to a college season to how MLB players will respond to a feather-ruffling college coach who hasn't paid the typical dues to earn such a role.
He's not worried about whether he fits into the picture of an MLB manager. He does wonder how it will feel. He did so at the two World Series games he attended since accepting the job.
He'll find out soon enough.
"We are in this together, whether you like me or not," Vitello said.
Vitello was speaking to fans when he said that. He might as well have turned to his right and uttered it to Posey, who didn't go into a search looking to make history. He did it anyway — and if Vitello succeeds, the Giants might have blown up the MLB manager role as it has been for decades with Buster's big move.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike's coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Tony Vitello's hire by Giants, Buster Posey a fascinating experiment
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Published: October 31, 2025 at 01:27AM on Source: VOXI MAG
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