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Evaluating the San Francisco Giants' season so far, it has been a struggle, to say the least. Nearly 60 games into the season, the Giants sit at 23-36 and in fourth place in the National League West Division.
It's no secret that the Giants have been one of the worst teams in baseball. While the extent of their struggles has been somewhat surprising, especially under first-year manager Tony Vitello, the results have been disappointing.
The Giants have performed slightly better at home, posting a 12-16 record compared to 11-20 on the road. However, neither mark is encouraging, particularly for a club that appeared to be transitioning out of what many viewed as a soft rebuild, even if the organization may not have publicly framed it that way.
President of baseball operations Buster Posey and the Giants were aggressive at last year's trade deadline, acquiring Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox.
The move signaled a clear intention to usher in a more competitive era of Giants baseball, reminiscent of the years when Posey was behind the plate for one of the game's most successful teams in the early 2010s.
While acquiring Devers did not immediately solve the Giants' problems, it did provide a more optimistic outlook heading into the offseason.
With a core featuring Willy Adames, who signed a seven-year, $182 million contract in 2025, and Matt Chapman anchoring third base, Devers appeared poised to become the Giants' first baseman of the future, despite the defensive questions that followed him from Boston.
One thing seemed clear entering 2026: The Giants intended to compete.
That belief gained momentum in October 2025 when the organization made the bold decision to hire Tony Vitello, the former head coach at the University of Tennessee.
The move was undoubtedly surprising. Up to that point, no MLB organization had hired a college coach directly to manage a major league team.
There have certainly been growing pains. Some postgame interviews have raised eyebrows, and the transition to managing at the highest level of the sport has not been seamless. Still, the Giants wanted a winner and someone capable of establishing an immediate presence, and Vitello unquestionably brings that energy.
Vitello arrived with one of the most accomplished résumés in college baseball, having helped transform Tennessee into a national powerhouse and guide the program to its first College World Series championship in 2024.
The Giants also ensured he would not be navigating the challenge alone. To help ease the transition, they brought in former Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington.
Washington remains one of the most respected figures in Major League Baseball. Although health concerns were a factor after he missed part of the 2025 season while recovering from quadruple bypass heart surgery, he was not ready to step away from the game when the Angels moved on from him.
His role with the Giants provides more than just organizational experience as the Giants' infield coach. It also gives Vitello access to a veteran mentor who understands the demands of managing at the major league level.
While the Giants have struggled, the blame cannot fall entirely on Vitello. Managing a big-league club comes with a steep learning curve, and whether he was the right hire will ultimately be determined over time.
Some responsibility for the team's performance naturally falls on a first-year manager, but focusing solely on that ignores the broader issues, including the underperformance of key players and inconsistencies throughout the pitching staff.
Simply put, a manager can only do so much with the roster he is given, and Vitello is learning that reality firsthand.
The Giants hold the fourth and 29th selections in the first round of July's MLB Draft.
While the organization would likely welcome the opportunity to draft Roch Cholowsky, given his performance with UCLA this season, the chances of him falling to No. 4 appear slim. Even with some noticeable offensive struggles in the Los Angeles Regional tournament, his overall profile should keep him near the top of the board.
The Giants acquired the 29th pick and Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson on May 9, 2026, in a deal involving former two-time Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey. The move came after Bailey's offensive struggles and questions surrounding his overall fit within the organization.
If Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey slips to No. 4, then the Giants could find a potential long-term replacement.
Lackey has been one of the top offensive catchers in college baseball this season. The organization also has a history of selecting Georgia Tech catchers, most notably Joey Bart in 2018.
Although that selection did not work out as hoped, this situation could be different. Lackey has demonstrated athleticism behind the plate and established himself as one of the better signal callers in college baseball.
The question, however, is whether the Giants feel comfortable with their current catching depth. Daniel Susac and Jesus Rodriguez remain young options. Susac, in particular, has performed well and begun to show the promise that made him a first-round talent, even after arriving through the Rule 5 Draft this offseason.
Because of that depth, the Giants may ultimately choose a different direction.
Given the struggles throughout the rotation, UC Santa Barbara right-hander Jackson Flora may make the most sense. He has emerged as one of the top pitchers in college baseball this season, and his Bay Area roots in Walnut Creek only strengthen the fit from the Giants' perspective.
The major-league rotation remains a significant concern. Tyler Mahle has struggled, and Adrian Houser has not provided much more stability. Both pitchers were brought in as short-term solutions while the organization searched for more sustainable, controllable arms.
There is talent in the farm system, but questions remain there as well. Hayden Birdsong was viewed as a potential rotation candidate before Tommy John surgery sidelined him during Spring Training. Even before the injury, his major-league opportunities had produced mixed results.
Caron Whisenhunt faces similar questions after his own struggles at the big-league level. Trevor McDonald has shown promise, particularly as a rookie, but there are still legitimate questions about his long-term ceiling.
Regardless of which direction the Giants choose in the draft, one thing is clear: This year's class has the potential to shape the organization's future.
If San Francisco selects a pitcher such as Flora, then the club could be taking a significant step toward stabilizing its rotation and developing the type of frontline starter it has lacked since the emergence of Logan Webb.
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It's no secret that the Giants have been one of the worst teams in baseball. While the extent of their struggles has been somewhat surprising, especially under first-year manager Tony Vitello, the results have been disappointing.
The Giants have performed slightly better at home, posting a 12-16 record compared to 11-20 on the road. However, neither mark is encouraging, particularly for a club that appeared to be transitioning out of what many viewed as a soft rebuild, even if the organization may not have publicly framed it that way.
President of baseball operations Buster Posey and the Giants were aggressive at last year's trade deadline, acquiring Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox.
The move signaled a clear intention to usher in a more competitive era of Giants baseball, reminiscent of the years when Posey was behind the plate for one of the game's most successful teams in the early 2010s.
While acquiring Devers did not immediately solve the Giants' problems, it did provide a more optimistic outlook heading into the offseason.
With a core featuring Willy Adames, who signed a seven-year, $182 million contract in 2025, and Matt Chapman anchoring third base, Devers appeared poised to become the Giants' first baseman of the future, despite the defensive questions that followed him from Boston.
Vitello the Answer?
One thing seemed clear entering 2026: The Giants intended to compete.
That belief gained momentum in October 2025 when the organization made the bold decision to hire Tony Vitello, the former head coach at the University of Tennessee.
The move was undoubtedly surprising. Up to that point, no MLB organization had hired a college coach directly to manage a major league team.
There have certainly been growing pains. Some postgame interviews have raised eyebrows, and the transition to managing at the highest level of the sport has not been seamless. Still, the Giants wanted a winner and someone capable of establishing an immediate presence, and Vitello unquestionably brings that energy.
Vitello arrived with one of the most accomplished résumés in college baseball, having helped transform Tennessee into a national powerhouse and guide the program to its first College World Series championship in 2024.
The Giants also ensured he would not be navigating the challenge alone. To help ease the transition, they brought in former Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington.
Washington remains one of the most respected figures in Major League Baseball. Although health concerns were a factor after he missed part of the 2025 season while recovering from quadruple bypass heart surgery, he was not ready to step away from the game when the Angels moved on from him.
His role with the Giants provides more than just organizational experience as the Giants' infield coach. It also gives Vitello access to a veteran mentor who understands the demands of managing at the major league level.
While the Giants have struggled, the blame cannot fall entirely on Vitello. Managing a big-league club comes with a steep learning curve, and whether he was the right hire will ultimately be determined over time.
Some responsibility for the team's performance naturally falls on a first-year manager, but focusing solely on that ignores the broader issues, including the underperformance of key players and inconsistencies throughout the pitching staff.
Simply put, a manager can only do so much with the roster he is given, and Vitello is learning that reality firsthand.
Draft or Bust?
The Giants hold the fourth and 29th selections in the first round of July's MLB Draft.
While the organization would likely welcome the opportunity to draft Roch Cholowsky, given his performance with UCLA this season, the chances of him falling to No. 4 appear slim. Even with some noticeable offensive struggles in the Los Angeles Regional tournament, his overall profile should keep him near the top of the board.
The Giants acquired the 29th pick and Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson on May 9, 2026, in a deal involving former two-time Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey. The move came after Bailey's offensive struggles and questions surrounding his overall fit within the organization.
If Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey slips to No. 4, then the Giants could find a potential long-term replacement.
Lackey has been one of the top offensive catchers in college baseball this season. The organization also has a history of selecting Georgia Tech catchers, most notably Joey Bart in 2018.
Although that selection did not work out as hoped, this situation could be different. Lackey has demonstrated athleticism behind the plate and established himself as one of the better signal callers in college baseball.
The question, however, is whether the Giants feel comfortable with their current catching depth. Daniel Susac and Jesus Rodriguez remain young options. Susac, in particular, has performed well and begun to show the promise that made him a first-round talent, even after arriving through the Rule 5 Draft this offseason.
Because of that depth, the Giants may ultimately choose a different direction.
Given the struggles throughout the rotation, UC Santa Barbara right-hander Jackson Flora may make the most sense. He has emerged as one of the top pitchers in college baseball this season, and his Bay Area roots in Walnut Creek only strengthen the fit from the Giants' perspective.
The major-league rotation remains a significant concern. Tyler Mahle has struggled, and Adrian Houser has not provided much more stability. Both pitchers were brought in as short-term solutions while the organization searched for more sustainable, controllable arms.
There is talent in the farm system, but questions remain there as well. Hayden Birdsong was viewed as a potential rotation candidate before Tommy John surgery sidelined him during Spring Training. Even before the injury, his major-league opportunities had produced mixed results.
Caron Whisenhunt faces similar questions after his own struggles at the big-league level. Trevor McDonald has shown promise, particularly as a rookie, but there are still legitimate questions about his long-term ceiling.
Regardless of which direction the Giants choose in the draft, one thing is clear: This year's class has the potential to shape the organization's future.
If San Francisco selects a pitcher such as Flora, then the club could be taking a significant step toward stabilizing its rotation and developing the type of frontline starter it has lacked since the emergence of Logan Webb.
Join the Community
Don’t miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It’s completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
