Paul Skenes Backs Tony Vitello as Giants’ MLB Manager

The San Francisco Giants just made a bold move. They’ve named Tony Vitello as their new manager—the first time in MLB history a team’s hired a skipper straight from college with zero pro coaching experience.

Honestly, it’s a gamble. The Giants seem convinced that Vitello’s work at the University of Tennessee and his reputation for developing players will translate to the big leagues. NL Cy Young frontrunner Paul Skenes, who faced Vitello’s Tennessee teams while at LSU, says he’s confident the transition will work.

A Groundbreaking Hire for the San Francisco Giants

Vitello’s appointment marks a milestone for MLB and college baseball alike. In eight years at Tennessee, he racked up a 341-131 record and led the school to its first College World Series championship.

Those achievements caught the eye of Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey. It’s a sharp break from the usual path to the big chair, which almost always runs through the minor or major leagues first.

Breaking Tradition: College Coaches in the Big Leagues

Usually, MLB clubs avoid managers who haven’t coached professionally. The thinking goes: the major league game’s too fast and complicated for someone without years around veteran pros.

Vitello’s leap straight to the big leagues challenges that. Maybe it’ll open the door for more college coaches down the line—who knows?

Endorsement from Paul Skenes

Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace and current NL Cy Young favorite, didn’t waste time endorsing Vitello. He’s got firsthand experience, having faced Vitello’s Volunteers while playing at LSU.

Why Skenes Believes Vitello Can Succeed

Skenes pointed out that hardly any college coaches could make this jump. In his mind, Vitello’s one of the rare exceptions.

He highlighted three reasons why:

• Intelligence: Vitello gets the game and its details.
• Adaptability: He adjusts fast to new challenges and different competition.
• Winning Mentality: He knows how to build teams that compete and win.

Player Development Expertise

Vitello’s resume? Pretty stacked. At Tennessee, he coached nine players who reached MLB, including Garrett Crochet and Jordan Beck.

Earlier in his career, he worked with future stars like Max Scherzer, Andrew Benintendi, and Ian Kinsler. That’s not a bad track record at all.

Impact on the Giants’ Future

The Giants have always valued player development. Vitello might just inject new life into their farm system.

His knack for nurturing young talent fits with the team’s goal of building sustainable success through scouting and homegrown players.

Buster Posey’s Calculated Risk

Buster Posey’s rolling the dice here, no doubt. He’s betting that innovation beats tradition, and maybe he’s right.

Posey clearly trusts Vitello’s coaching chops and believes he’ll adapt to MLB’s culture and demands quickly. There’s a lot riding on this.

A Possible Shift in MLB’s Hiring Landscape

If Vitello succeeds, maybe more college coaches will get their shot. This hire’s going to be under the microscope, and its outcome could shape how teams hire managers for years.

Conclusion: A New Era for Giants Baseball

Vitello’s arrival in San Francisco isn’t just another managerial hire. It’s a real challenge to baseball’s old-school ideas about where great leaders actually come from.

He’s got that championship background and a knack for developing talent. Players like Paul Skenes vouch for him, so you can feel some excitement building.

Will this gamble work out for the Giants? Guess we’ll all be watching to find out.

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Here is the source article for this story: Pirates ace Paul Skenes believes ‘winner’ Tony Vitello can make jump to MLB as Giants manager