Longtime SF Giants coach Ron Wotus to retire after 2021 season

SF Giants third-base coach Ron Wotus is one of the longest-tenured coaches in MLB. However, after more than 20 years in the Giants dugout, Wotus announced on Tuesday that he will be stepping away from full-time coaching after the 2021 season. Wotus was originally hired as the team’s third-base coach back in 1998, under manager Dusty Baker. He has worked under Baker, Felipe Alou, Bruce Bochy, and Gabe Kapler.

Longtime SF Giants coach Ron Wotus will retire at the end of 2021.

Wotus was born and raised in Connecticut, where he was drafted out of Bacon Academy High School in the 16th round of the 1979 MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. A glove-first shortstop, Wotus hoped to have a long big-league career in the Northeast.

While he quickly climbed the minor-league ladder, Wotus lacked significant speed, something expected of middle infielders in the 1980s. Nevertheless, he reached Triple-A at just 21 and put up an impressive .301/.379/.452 triple-slash with 10 home runs and nearly as many walks (62) as strikeouts (73) in 1983. However, in two short stints with the Pirates in 1983 and 1984, Wotus hit just .207/.277/.310 in 67 plate appearances and never received another big-league opportunity.

Wotus kicked around the upper minors for a few years, spending time with the Kansas City Royals and Giants Triple-A affiliates before hanging up his cleats following the 1989 season. Less than two years later, Wotus became the manager of the Giants Class-A affiliate in San Jose. He quickly climbed the minor-league ladder over the next six years, managing the organization’s Double-A and Triple-A affiliates as well, before he joined the big-league staff.

Wotus served as the Giants bench coach from 1999-2017 before returning to third-base coaching duties. On August 10th of this year, Wotus became just the second coach in Giants history to reach 2,000 wins with the franchise.

One of the most well-respected assistant coaches in MLB, Wotus has interviewed for several managerial positions over his Giants tenure but never received an offer. Now 60-years old, Wotus plans to remain in the Giants organization part-time, traveling to different minor league affiliates and working with the team in spring training.

Ron Wotus has been a staple in the SF Giants dugout through every franchise high and low over the past 24 years. However, he’ll be looking for new opportunities after the conclusion of the 2021 season.