As Tony Vitello gears up for his first year managing the San Francisco Giants, he is reflecting on the type of skippers and players he watched growing up. 

Vitello experienced great success at the collegiate level as he elevated the Tennessee Volunteers to several College World Series appearances and a National Championship. Now, he is adapting to the Majors. 

"You know, first off, speaking of like managers or walking in the halls, like, I don't know if this is smart to admit, but I still kind of see myself as the kid that grew up," Vitello said. "You know, going to (see) Whitey Herzog-coached teams, and I'd go to Wrigley with my dad — he's from Chicago — cheering them on." 

Vitello is experiencing a full circle moment after growing up attending Giants games.

"And then even when Bill Miller was playing with the Giants, the only reason I was going to those games is because the tickets were free," he said. "And then also I was a fan. I mean, so for a while there, the Giants became my favorite team because of him. And there's still a little bit of that in me walking around, you know, almost kind of caught myself with my head down. There's a high level of respect for these people that are in the game.  

From his early experiences, Vitello learned the importance of balancing confidence and humility in order to find success. He also understands the need to be authentic and shape his own identity.

"But for me, maybe because I was around my dad and all these athletic teams, I think it changes when you're in a building together as a group, like we're a part of a team. And in order to be a good teammate, I don't think you can see yourself as above somebody.  And I think it would be crazy to see yourself as below somebody as well, because you'd be cheating yourself and them." 

"So I think for me, the balance is once you're in the game, We're in the dugout together regardless of who's on the other side, or the doors are closed in a meeting, or you're just underneath the stadium in the concourse, in the locker room.  We're all one group.  And I think that's the same kind of across the college level, the high school level.  It's just the athletes are better.  These are the best players in the world.  And obviously, they're some of the smartest people." 

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