A little over a year ago, I wrote that there was only one scenario that should scare Tennessee Vols fans when it comes to UT baseball coach Tony Vitello potentially leaving Knoxville for another job.
That scenario is a manager’s job in MLB.
And, well, it might be be time for Vols fans to get nervous.
Tony Vitello’s name linked to San Francisco Giants job
On Monday, the San Francisco Giants fired manager Bob Melvin. The move came less than three months after the Giants picked up Melvin’s option for the 2026 season.
The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly quickly threw out Vitello’s name as a potential option to replace Melvin in the Bay Area.
Baggarly noted that Vitello and Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey were both at Coors Field earlier this month, though it’s unclear if the two spoke.
“Here’s one out-of-the-box name who fits the high-motor description: Tony Vitello, who transformed the University of Tennessee from a bottom-feeder in the Southeastern Conference into perhaps the brashest and most talented program in the country,” wrote Baggarly. “It’s possible that Vitello and Posey have already spoken; both were at Coors Field when the Giants played a three-game series against the Rockies earlier this month. It would be rare for an NCAA coach with no professional experience to jump into a major-league managerial position, but perhaps former Arizona State coach Pat Murphy’s resounding success with the Milwaukee Brewers, and the unique energy he brings to their dugout, might influence a new trend in how front offices seek to staff the position.”
I think it’s a long shot that Vitello would leave Tennessee for the Giants. And there’s no guarantee that he would even be offered the job. Vitello has never coached above the college level — it would be a big risk to hire him to manage an MLB clubhouse when he’s never been an MLB player or coach at any level.
But pro teams like to go outside of the box from time to time. So I don’t think it can be ruled out that San Francisco could show serious interest in Vitello.
On the flip side, I don’t think Vitello is eager to leave Knoxville. I think his heels are dug in on Rocky Top, and he believes he has the best job in the country.
