Tony Vitello built a dynasty at the University of Tennessee, compiling a staggering .722 winning percentage across eight seasons and going an almost absurd 257-70 over his final four years in Knoxville. Now, as the first-year manager of the San Francisco Giants, he's confronting something he rarely experienced in college: losing, and lots of it.
The Giants sit at 9-13 early in the 2026 season, and while that record is far from catastrophic by big-league standards, it represents unfamiliar territory for Vitello. As Yahoo Sports detailed in a lengthy profile, the 47-year-old never won more than 60 games or lost more than 27 in a single college season. He will almost certainly surpass both marks this year, no matter how the rest of the campaign unfolds.
"It's been very difficult," Vitello admitted before a recent game in Washington. "It's something that I was warned about from some of my friends. You have to deal with it the right way. Otherwise it'll sink you."
The challenge goes beyond the standings. A college baseball season features roughly 56 games, meaning each outcome carries outsized weight. In MLB, the 162-game grind demands a fundamentally different psychological approach. The well-worn clubhouse mantra of staying even-keeled — never too high after a win, never too low after a loss — exists for a reason. It's a survival mechanism, not just a cliché.
Vitello's surprise jump from the college ranks to the majors was one of the offseason's most intriguing storylines. Whether his intense, win-now mentality can translate to a league that rewards patience and emotional durability over the long haul remains the central question of San Francisco's season. For now, the former college lifer is learning on the job — one loss at a time.
