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The San Francisco Giants didn’t shock the baseball world on Wednesday, but that’s only because most people already had an idea that the big news was coming. After parting ways with manager Bob Melvin at the end of the season, the Giants are preparing to announce the hire of Tony Vitello, according to The Athletic. Vitello, the national champion head baseball coach at Tennessee, will become the first-ever college coach to become a major league manager with no prior professional experience, according to Brian Murphy of MLB.com. It’s a seismic day in Major League Baseball, as the Giants are breaking the mold in their quest to finally get over the hump in the brutally competitive National League West. And naturally, there’s bound to be skepticism about a college coach’s ability to transition to the very different responsibilities of managing a 162-game season and a roster of 26 professionals. FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS – MAY 15: Head Coach Tony Vitello of the Tennessee Volunteers warms up his players before game one of the series against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Baum-Walker Stadium at George Cole Field on May 15, 2025 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Volunteers defeated the Razorbacks 10-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) However, Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher and future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer is here to provide a ringing endorsement. Vitello was Scherzer’s pitching coach in college at Missouri, and based on firsthand experience, Scherzer is confident Vitello can rise to the challenge of getting potentially egotistical big-leaguers to buy into the same culture he fostered in college. “I absolutely believe in him,” Scherzer said, per Ken Rosenthal and Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic. “He’s to this day one of my closest friends, and I absolutely believe he’s gonna get it done at the big league level. “He’s going to get players to buy in. I know there’s going to be this narrative that he doesn’t have any pro ball experience. But his ability to relate to players and his fire and passion for the game is going to resonate with everybody within that clubhouse. So I just don’t see that as an issue.” Helping Vitello’s case in San Francisco is the prominent presence of former Tennessee disciples on the organizational depth chart. The Giants traded for former Tennessee outfielder Drew Gilbert and pitcher Blade Tidwell at the trade deadline, and they also selected ex-Volunteers infielder Gavin Kilen with their first-round pick this summer. Still, it’s a big step up from managing 18- to 22-year-olds to the likes of Rafael Devers (whose misgivings with Boston Red Sox leadership got him traded to the Giants) and Matt Chapman. A strong endorsement from a three-time Cy Young Award winner in Scherzer certainly carries weight, but ultimately, the results on the field in San Francisco will hinge on whether Vitello can keep up with the pace in his new environment. More MLB: Cubs Facing ‘Easy Decision’ Regarding All-Star’s $57 Million Contract
