The San Francisco Giants have officially announced the coaching staff under new manager Tony Vitello, just days before the start of spring training next week. The announcement comes after months of speculation regarding the structure and composition of the team’s coaching lineup.
The Giants have had a clear vision for their coaching staff for some time. In December, Vitello, who previously managed the University of Tennessee, gathered his prospective coaches during MLB’s Winter Meetings in Orlando. This meeting allowed the staff to engage in crucial discussions about their roles and expectations, although Vitello continued to evaluate various possibilities before finalizing the team.
“Covering up any blind spots so that whatever area it might be — or level of expertise the players are looking for in a certain area — it’s available,” Vitello shared in December. “I think we’ve been relatively successful at doing that, and also creating a group that’s going to have the energy we envision for the organization.”
Among the notable appointments, Jayce Tingler will serve as the bench coach. Tingler, who spent two seasons managing the San Diego Padres in 2020 and 2021, previously played with Vitello at the University of Missouri and has also worked as the bench coach for the Minnesota Twins.
Another experienced figure joining the staff is Ron Washington, who will take on the role of major league infield coach. Washington has a rich history in baseball, having managed the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels. He will be instrumental in developing infielders, particularly new addition Luis Arraez, who has faced challenges defensively since entering the league.
“His ability to coach infielders is of great value,” Vitello emphasized. “He’ll work with the infielders to make improvements, whether it’s the everyday players or those fighting for a spot.”
The batting lineup will see a change with Hunter Mense stepping in as the new hitting coach. Mense, who replaces Pat Burrell, comes from the Toronto Blue Jays’ coaching staff and is tasked with rejuvenating an offense that ranked 17th in runs and 22nd in on-base plus slugging (OPS) last season.
On the pitching side, Justin Meccage will become the pitching coach following the departure of J.P. Martinez, who joined the Atlanta Braves as their new bullpen coach. Meccage, having previously coached at the Triple-A level for the Milwaukee Brewers, is expected to bring valuable experience to the Giants’ pitching staff.
Additional appointments include Jesse Chavez as the new bullpen coach, taking over from Garvin Alston. Chavez brings 18 years of major-league experience to the role. Frank Anderson, who coached Vitello at Tennessee, will serve as the director of major league pitching, while Christian Wonders joins as an assistant pitching coach from the Tampa Bay Rays.
The team will also retain some familiar faces. Shane Robinson and Hector Borg will serve as the first-base and third-base coaches, respectively, while several other coaches from last year’s staff, including Oscar Bernard (assistant hitting coach) and Taira Uematsu (quality control coach), will continue in their roles.
As the Giants prepare for the upcoming season, the team will also participate in the World Baseball Classic scheduled for March 2024. Eight players from the Giants’ major league roster will represent their respective countries, including Logan Webb (USA), Tristan Beck (Great Britain), and Heliot Ramos (Puerto Rico).
In addition, special advisor Dusty Baker will manage the Nicaragua team, while former Giants coaches Ron Wotus and Dave Righetti will serve in coaching roles for Italy.
With the announcement of Vitello’s coaching staff, the Giants aim to build on their past successes and bring renewed energy to the upcoming season.
