Bruce Bochy’s Surprising Advice for New Manager Tony Vitello That Could Change Everything

Bruce Bochy isn’t just a name etched in Giants lore — he’s a blueprint for success. The man who steered San Francisco to three World Series titles knows firsthand the nuances of leading a team to the pinnacle of baseball glory. Now, as he steps back into the Bay Area spotlight in a special assistant role alongside Tony Vitello, there’s a palpable buzz about the kind of veteran insight he brings to the table. Greg Johnson, the Giants’ chairman, hinted at this in a recent chat with the San Francisco Chronicle: Bochy’s back and ready to mentor, which is no small deal given Vitello’s coaching resume has been collegiate, most recently shining at Tennessee. Bochy’s takeaway for the new skipper? Adaptability is king, even if you’ve been around the block a few times. And Vitello, with his brimming confidence and charisma — qualities that could’ve easily propelled him into politics back in Knoxville — is all in for the challenge ahead. For a guy stepping into Major League Baseball with fresh eyes, having Bochy’s seasoned perspective might just be the secret weapon the Giants need to reclaim their championship pedigree. LEARN MORE

Bruce Bochy knows what it takes to lead the Giants to greatness.

That is why, after returning to the Bay as one of Tony Vitello’s special assistants, as team chairman Greg Johnson told the San Francisco Chronicle in an interview published Tuesday, Bochy has some wisdom for the Orange and Black’s new manager.

Bochy shared what advice he’ll give Vitello — who only has coached at the collegiate level and most recently at Tennessee — once they begin working together in an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly published on Wednesday.

“You have to adapt, but that’s true even if you’ve been doing it a while in the major leagues,” Bochy said of Vitello to Baggarly. “Every year is different. You’ve got to adapt to every bullpen. Sure, there’s more games, but believe me, he’s smart enough to figure that out.

“With all the success he had, he could’ve run for mayor in Knoxville. He’s got a lot of confidence. You can see it in him when you talk to him. He’s all in on this challenge.”

Bochy would know.

The 70-year-old won three World Series rings over 13 years with San Francisco and a fourth in 2023 with the Texas Rangers.

As a seasoned veteran who has been there and done that, Bochy can help the 47-year-old Vitello transition from working with young adults in Rocky Top to seasoned big-leaguers in the Bay.

“The only advice I’d say is be yourself,” Bochy said of Vitello to Baggarly. “He’s so likable and personable. He’s worked with diverse players from all over the country at Tennessee. He’s had to work with a lot of different personalities. All that experience he’ll draw on and that’s going to work in the major leagues as well. So don’t change. Don’t try to be something you’re not.

“I think he’s going to be so good at that. He’s been in that dugout for a lot of games, so that’s not going to speed up on him. And hey, you learn on the job, too. He’ll have good people around him to help.”

Vitello doesn’t have any MLB experience; however, San Francisco’s new skipper will have tons of it in his corner in 2026 — especially from Bochy.

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