Could Buster Posey tab unlikely former teammate as next SF Giants manager?

This move would certainly shake things up.
San Francisco Giants v New York Mets
San Francisco Giants v New York Mets | Jim McIsaac/GettyImages

The SF Giants are going to finish at or just below .500 in 2025. Manager Bob Melvin's seat is most definitely warm. If president of baseball operations Buster Posey decides to make a change, would he consider an unlikely former teammate in Nick Hundley?

Giants fans will remember Hundley from his two seasons with San Francisco in 2017 and 2018 as the backup catcher. Posey ended up spending some time on the injured list those seasons so Hundley played quite a bit as a result.

Buster Posey could make Nick Hundley next SF Giants manager

Across those two seasons, Hundley slashed .243/.285/.413 with 19 home runs and 66 runs batted in. He won the Willie Mac Award in 2017 and got into a spat with Yasiel Puig in 2018 which are both pretty big points in his favor.

After his playing days, Hundley got a job with MLB before being hired by the front office of the Texas Rangers in 2022 as the assistant general manager. The Giants reportedly had interest in Hundley for their managerial opening in 2023 after dismissing Gabe Kapler but Hundley chose to remain with the Rangers.

Now, with Posey in charge, would Hundley potentially have more interest in managing the Giants?

He would surely find the opportunity to work with a former player and former catcher in Posey at least somewhat enticing. He would be inheriting a roster with strong pieces that eeasily could have been a playoff team in 2025 with some cleaner baseball during the rough stretches.

The Giants would have interest because he would be a younger manager who could better connect with players and perhaps provide a bit more energy in the clubhouse when it seems that Melvin often lacked that energy.

Looking across the league, the Giants have seen the success the Cleveland Guardians have had with Stephen Vogt as their manager. He has led Cleveland to the playoffs in his first two seasons as the skipper. He interviewed with the Giants back in 2023 but they went with Melvin over him which is a decision they may regret.

If the Giants were to move on from Melvin, which seems like a real possibility, and hired Hundley to replace him it would be with the hope that Hundley could be the next Vogt as a former catcher and first-time manager who could take a roster with talent to the next level. Of course, we saw how things panned out in Chicago with David Ross a few years back so this sort of move could definitely backfire.

Hundley's appearance at the Willie Mac Award ceremony on Friday only fueled speculation that the former catcher could be a potential Melvin replacement.

We will see what Posey decides to do in the coming days, but do not be surprised if Hundley's name comes up as a potential replacement if the Giants do indeed move on from Melvin.

More from Around the Foghorn: