Four SF Giants players with ties to incoming manager Tony Vitello

The SF Giants are set to introduce Tony Vitello as their new manager next week. While he may be new to the organization, he will see plenty of familiar faces, including Drew Gilbert.

Four SF Giants players with ties to incoming manager Tony Vitello

Gilbert played some good defense, especially in center field, but he did not do enough offensively to enter next spring as the presumptive starting right fielder.

The Giants may need to look outside the organization to upgrade that area of the roster. That said, Gilbert should be in the mix as a fourth outfielder next spring.

Gilbert played at the University of Tennessee with pitching prospect Blade Tidwell. Infielder prospects Maui Ahuna and Gavin Kilen also have connections to the program.

Tidwell and Gilbert have now been teammates in three organizations. Gilbert was drafted in the first round of the 2022 draft by the Houston Astros. One round later, Tidwell was drafted by the New York Mets.

The speedy outfielder was shipped to the Mets in a deal that sent Justin Verlander back to the Houston Astros. This move reunited Gilbert and Tidwell in New York. They were included in the four-players deal that sent Tyler Rogers to the Mets this past summer.

Tony Vitello manages with a lot of energy, and it is hard to ignore how that infectious energy has seemingly rubbed off on Gilbert.

Maui Ahuna was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 draft. He was drafted three rounds after Bryce Eldridge. Ahuna has missed time as a pro after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Ahuna hits with power and has the range and arm to stick at shortstop. He is with the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League, where he has posted a .582 OPS in 31 plate appearances.

Lastly, Gavin Kilen is the most recent addition with ties to incoming manager Tony Vitello. Kilen was drafted in the first round of this year's draft. He appeared in 10 games with the San Jose Giants before finishing the season on the injured list.

Vitello might be new to the West Coast, but there should be plenty of familiarity with some of the players in the Giants organization.