Giants new manager could change future landscape of baseball

However, Buster Posey, who now serves as the Giants' president of baseball operations after wrapping up a legendary career as San Francisco's catcher on three World Series championship teams, feels he found the perfect man for the job in Vitello. 

"Someone that is going to be obsessive about the details, obsessive about the work, obsessive getting the most out our players, getting the most out of our staff," said Posey when explaining what he was looking for in a manager in a recent interview with NBC Sports San Francisco.

Vitello has an impressive track record of success 

Despite a resume containing only college experience, Vitello does have a track record that fits what Posey mentioned. 

Since being hired by Tennessee in 2017, Vitello, 47, has transformed the Volunteers into an SEC baseball power. He led Tennessee to the schools' first baseball national title in 2024 and two more trips to the College World Series on top of that. 

Under Vitello, the Volunteers also won both the SEC regular-season and tournament crowns in 2022 and 2024. Prior to Tennessee, Vitello served as an assistant coach at Arkansas, Missouri and TCU.

A new road to MLB manager positions?

It's now possible that Vitello could become the test case for other organizations. If he proves he can win at the MLB level, other franchises may look closer at the top college coaches. But if the gamble on Vitello doesn't work out for the Giants, he could own the distinction as the first and the last strictly college coach to earn an MLB opportunity. 

Vitello takes over a Giants team coming off an 81-81 season and which has failed to post a winning record or make the playoffs since 2021.