Early struggles raise more questions about Vitello's readiness for MLB

San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Early struggles raise more questions about Giants manager Tony Vitello's readiness for MLB

By Daniel Morrison | Last updated Mar 30, 2026 12:57 PM ET

The San Francisco Giants made some history this offseason, hiring Tony Vitello away from the Tennessee Volunteers. That made Vitello the first MLB manager to never coach in a professional setting, either as an assistant or minor league manager.

That decision came with questions. There's no surprise that it did. The dynamic of coaching professionals is simply different than coaching college athletes, even in the NIL era. The season is much longer in MLB, and so are the emotions and decision-making processes.

So far, it's been rough on the field for Vitello and the Giants.

The Giants were swept to open the season by the New York Yankees. That included getting shut out in their first two games. That's the first time that's happened to open a season in team history, going back to 1883. In its third game, San Francisco only scored one run.

In other words, it didn't look ready to play under Vitello.

Comments from Tony Vitello made things worse

With questions before the season started due to his background, Vitello began feeling the heat of losing right away. He didn't help matters when he got on the mic, though, adding fuel to concerns he's not ready for this stage.

While speaking to Ken Rosenthal on the TV broadcast, Vitello shared that he's feeling the difference between manager and head coach, as well as that he has had to change how he talks to players.

“I can’t talk down to guys anymore, they’re my age — or it feels like they’re close to it,” Vitello said. “But in all honesty, I think there are just so many more people involved. There are so many more people in the stands, there are more people in the clubhouse. It truly is a manager position, not just a head coach position. But the thing I like doing more than recruiting or managing is coaching, so just trying to fill in spots when I can and just help these guys out.”

This is probably a case of simply being too honest. How he approaches players closer to his age, making more money than him, is going to be different than how he approached an 18-year-old. However, the implication that he talks down to players is going to rub folks the wrong way. It doesn't help that he also admitted to the learning curve amid a slow start to the season.

It's all going to add up quickly now for Vitello, as fans grow increasingly concerned that he isn't ready for MLB.

What's next for the Giants?

The good news for Vitello and the Giants is that one series won't define their season. Had this sweep come in mid-May, it would have been quickly forgotten. It's just that, without anything else to go on, the painful start has been amplified.

There are 159 games to go. The Giants are already three games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers, tied with the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West. So, they'll have to put aside the Yankees series and get ready to play again on Monday night against the San Diego Padres.

Daniel Morrison

Dan Morrison is a writer originally from Massachusetts, now residing in Florida. He spent four years at On3, working on the National News Desk there. Prior to that, he’s also contributed at Underdog Dynasty.

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