SAN FRANCISCO (Full Disclosure) — Tony Vitello made his first impression as the 40th manager of the San Francisco Giants on Thursday. By all accounts, he won the room.
The former Tennessee baseball coach, known for his fiery style in Knoxville, brought that same charisma to the Bay Area during his introductory press conference .
Greg Silver, host and producer of Papa and Silver on KNBR radio, said Vitello’s poise stood out immediately.
“This isn’t a surprise, but Tony Vitello certainly won the press conference,” Silver said. “His strength as a communicator and his ability to handle all types of personalities came through right away.”
The move from college to the majors was described as a challenge rather than a risk by Vitello, which Silver found telling.
“That attitude shows exactly how he’s approaching this,” Silver said.
Vitello acknowledged the high expectations that come with leading the Giants.
“There’s a lot to learn from the past, and there are very high expectations, very high standards to meet because of the past,” Vitello said. “This is a challenge that’s been presented to me, and again I’m humbled and honored to be here in front of you today to take on that challenge.”
The fan base has seen more mediocrity than magic since its 107-win season in 2021. Silver said Vitello’s arrival represents a breath of fresh air.
“The Giants have been hovering around .500 for years, not bad but not special either,” he said. “Even though it’s a big roll of the dice by Buster Posey, you can see how much people are embracing the energy, youthfulness, and potential.”
Silver said Vitello’s energy and focus on hard work is exactly what the organization needs.
“It’s been a lot of 81-win seasons that fall short of the standard Posey helped set,” Silver said. “Buster Posey came back to the organization because he hates losing. Tony Vitello hates losing. That’s going to be the tone in the clubhouse.”
Buster Posey, the Giants’ president of baseball operations, highlighted Vitello as a culture builder.
“Tony had a lot of conversations with people in our own organization and the feedback was all the same,” Posey said. “The response was this guy’s a winner. “
“Tony’s a teacher, he’s a motivator, tireless worker, and someone who understands how to build culture. We believe his leadership is not only going to impact our clubhouse, but it’s also going to impact our organization and our entire fan base as well.”
Silver, who was in the ballpark during Vitello’s introduction, said the energy around the team felt optimistic even amid uncertainty.
“There was chaos, but it was positive chaos,” he said. “We’re still in the ‘we’ll see’ stage. He doesn’t have his staff or roster yet, but it feels like the start of something new.”
Vitello also drew laughs when asked about managing his emotions over a 162-game season.
“John Shea from the San Francisco Standard asked the first question, and Tony said, ‘My mom would probably tell me to turn it down, but my dad would ask me to kick it up a notch,’” Silver said. “That’s when everyone relaxed a little. You could tell he was going to settle in fine.”
The opportunity to coach in the major leagues is a surreal moment for Vitello. It’s a stage he hadn’t envisioned until recently.
“It is a dream come true, but a very recent one,” he said. “As much as I’d love to sit up here and promise things, all I want to do is a good job.”
Vitello’s debut season begins next spring against the New York Yankees. It’s a fittingly high-profile stage for one of the sport’s most unconventional hires.
“It could have been a lot of different people,” Silver said. “But the fact that it’s Tony Vitello makes me want to watch this just a little closer.”
