SF Giants’ new manager Vitello officially begins first MLB spring training

SCOTTSDALE — Tony Vitello described it as something of a ramble. Buster Posey saw it differently.

On Tuesday morning, Vitello stood in the middle of the Giants’ clubhouse and addressed the team’s pitchers and catchers. This wasn’t just the first day of spring training for everyone in the room. For Vitello, it was his first day of major-league spring training, period.

Vitello, standing in front of a group of professionals instead of amateurs, told his team about his background, his origins. Soon, he’ll deliver another speech ahead of the team’s first full-squad workout. For Vitello, Tuesday marked the first of many new experiences that lie ahead as he makes the unprecedented leap from collegiate head coach to major-league manager.

“I enjoyed listening to him talk,” Posey, the Giants’ president of baseball operations, said. “He’s usually good for four or five good one-liners through his rambles. He’ll mix in some comedy. He’s talented, right? He’s one of those guys who, when he’s talking, even if he thinks it’s a ramble, you’re kind of hanging onto the words that he’s saying.”

“I thought it was great,” said two-time All-Star Logan Webb. “You can tell there’s a lot of competitive spirit in him that just wants to win. That’s pretty much what his message was: He wants us to all feel the way he feels. I think it’s a great message.”

At the University of Tennessee, Vitello ran a version of spring training for about a month from early January to early February. In Arizona, the scale of a major-league spring training will be much larger.

Vitello will have a pair of invaluable resources on his coaching staff in bench coach Jayce Tingler and infield coach Ron Washington, both having managed in the majors. Tingler, who was Vitello’s teammate at the University of Missouri, led the San Diego Padres for two seasons, while Washington has 10 years of managerial experience with the Texas Rangers (2007-14) and Los Angeles Angels (2024-25).

“If you ask Wash anything, he’s very appreciative and, more often (than not), he’s got the answer, and he’ll give it to you with all his soul. Also, it’ll be very straightforward,” Vitello said. “Then, coach Tingler’s got more energy and intensity than anybody. So, I would say at this point, he’s probably worn me out a little bit. ”

Along with acclimating to the ebbs and flows of the Cactus League, Vitello will dedicate much of the next six weeks to developing relationships with his players. Vitello spent time with several players in the offseason, most notably Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee during a goodwill trip to South Korea, and Vitello said he has at least sent a text message to everybody.

One early fan of Vitello is top prospect Bryce Eldridge, who will try to make his first Opening Day roster.

Vitello tried recruiting Eldridge out of James Madison High School, and Eldridge’s final two choices were between Alabama and Tennessee. Eldridge, a longtime fan of the Crimson Tide, committed to play in Tuscaloosa over Knoxville, but ended up skipping college entirely when the Giants drafted him in the first round of the 2023 MLB draft.

“He keeps bringing up the fact that I chose Alabama over Tennessee, but I think we’ll move past that at some point,” Eldridge laughed. “He’s been great. I know everyone in this clubhouse is really fired up about having him here.”

Eldridge recalled a moment in January when he hit poorly in his first batting session against a pitching machine since undergoing left wrist surgery in October. Vitello cooled Eldridge off, reminding the 21-year-old that it was only his first time hitting on the field in quite some time.

“It’s just stuff like that,” Eldridge said. “He makes you take a step back and realize we’re all human. I think just the way he naturally connects with players — it took one day for me to feel like, ‘Wow, this is my guy, I can go talk to him about anything.’ It’s exciting.”

Added third baseman Matt Chapman: “I feel like he’s got a really good baseball mind. You can tell he’s smart. You can tell he’s super intense and competitive, so I think it’s going to be a good fit for us.”

Along with Eldridge’s anecdote, Posey remembered being impressed with Vitello when the Giants hosted a clinic with high schoolers during the team’s trip to South Korea.

“You just saw a switch come on,” Posey said. “I saw it today in the meeting when he was addressing the pitchers. What I’ve learned about him is that he is really good about turning that switch on when he needs to. He carries himself very confidently, talked a lot about mentality and mindset, which I’m a big believer in as well.

“It’s hard to glean too much from the first day of pitchers and catchers, but we’re off to a good start.”