The San Francisco Giants entered 2026 with a veteran-led lineup and Tony Vitello beginning his first season as manager.

Expectations were not met. San Francisco finished fourth in the National League West Division, 35 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, and never seriously entered postseason contention.

However, Vitello and a roster that became significantly younger learned several important lessons during the difficult year.

The former University of Tennessee head coach experienced the demands of managing at the MLB level for the first time.

During his end-of-season press conference with president of baseball operations Buster Posey, Vitello discussed what he learned during the first season of his contract.

According to NBC Sports Bay Area, Vitello recalled referring to himself as the boss or manager during a team meeting. His first year helped him understand why manager is a specific title and showed him that he must continue adapting to the position.

“I made a comment about being the boss or manager or something that in a team meeting at some point. I’ve learned more and I understand that manager is a specific name for a reason and I think there’s some adaptations there, too,” Vitello said.

Vitello can look back and identify decisions he wishes he had handled differently. That reflection should leave him better prepared for the future.

San Francisco’s roster was also repeatedly disrupted by injuries, with the Giants tying an MLB record for the number of players used during one season.

Vitello’s father, Greg Vitello, was asked what his son could improve during the offseason before returning in 2027.

He believes the Giants manager should allow more of his natural personality to emerge. Greg described his son as someone with considerable fire who may have restrained himself during his first year.

“I think just be a little bit more of himself. There’s a lot of fire there, and I think he held back a little bit,” Vitello’s father said to The San Francisco Standard.

That assessment may be surprising because Vitello led MLB managers with seven ejections in 2026.

Although the Giants struggled, Vitello clearly possesses the passion required to become a successful MLB manager.

His father also believes he can lead San Francisco back into the postseason hunt next year and sees several encouraging developments from his first season.

Greg emphasized that managing at this level presents new lessons every day. He views his son’s willingness to acknowledge how much more he must learn as a strength, especially because some managers might believe they have already mastered the position.

Vitello has not adopted that attitude. He recognizes that he has not arrived and remains open to learning.

“At this level, there’s just so much to learn every day. I think one of the things is that he’s accepted the fact that ‘I need to learn more.’ Some guys, they can’t do that. It’s, ‘Hey, man, I’ve arrived.’ He hasn’t arrived, and he knows it,” Vitello’s father noted.

The Giants share his frustration after missing the postseason despite receiving considerable attention before the season.

During the end-of-season press conference, Vitello expressed his hope that the Giants will begin next year with an entire group of people united by a mission, including himself.

“My hope is next year, when it starts, there’s a bunch of people on a mission, and I’ll be one of those people,” Vitello explained.

Vitello brings passion, accountability and a willingness to adapt. He does not appear interested in hiding from the mistakes made during his first year.

He can combine that honesty with the intensity that defined his success before reaching San Francisco. If he becomes more comfortable expressing his personality without losing control, his energy can create clearer expectations throughout the roster.

Vitello’s first season exposed how much he still must learn. His response suggests he intends to use those lessons rather than repeat them.