Insider reveals timeline for Tony Vitello’s decision to leave Tennessee
By Jake Faigus
Published:
On Wednesday, the college baseball world received shocking news that Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello is leaving to join the San Francisco Giants. It’s an unconventional hire and the first time a college baseball coach has jumped to MLB manager.
For the Giants, the first domino to fall in this situation was missing the postseason and firing Bob Melvin as their manager. Talks started from there, with D1Baseball insider Kendall Rogers reporting that both sides had been talking for at least a few weeks.
Rogers provided a complete timeline of what he heard.
Vitello’s camp, according to Rogers, spent several weeks going back and forth with the Giants’ front office. San Francisco reportedly wanted a decision over the last weekend, but with Vitello still undecided, that deadline came and went.
The chance to lead a major-league side, according to Rogers, could not be turned down.
The Giants are struggling, and it would be a shock if they started winning immediately under their new leader. Vitello will hope to bring the magic he had at Tennessee to the Bay Area. Vitello took Tennessee to 3 College World Series appearances in 7 years and won the 2024 national championship.
There are only a limited number of these jobs, so it makes sense why Vitello would take one, but it immediately makes Tennessee one of the best jobs available in college baseball.
