The San Francisco Giants are close to hiring longtime MLB coach and manager Ron Washington as their infield coach, general manager Zack Minasian confirmed on Thursday. Washington, 73, brings decades of experience and will support new manager Tony Vitello. The move adds expertise to the Giants' staff amid Vitello's transition from college baseball.
The San Francisco Giants are finalizing a deal to bring Ron Washington on board as an infield coach, according to general manager Zack Minasian during a Thursday appearance on KNBR 680. Washington, 73, developed a reputation as an infield specialist during his time as first- and third-base coach for the Oakland Athletics from 1996 to 2006. He later managed the Texas Rangers from 2007 to 2014, leading them to back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011, though they lost both, including the first to the Giants.
After his Rangers tenure, Washington returned to the Athletics as a special instructor and third-base coach from 2015 to 2016. He then served seven seasons as the Atlanta Braves' third-base coach before managing the Los Angeles Angels in 2024 under general manager Perry Minasian, Zack's brother. Washington managed one full season with the Angels but was placed on medical leave on June 20 and underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery on June 30. The Angels declined his 2026 option in October.
Washington's hire will allow him to return to the Bay Area and work with the Giants' infielders, including five-time Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman, shortstop Willy Adames, second baseman Casey Schmitt, and first basemen Rafael Devers and Bryce Eldridge. The addition supports new manager Tony Vitello, the first college coach to transition directly to an MLB managerial role without prior professional coaching experience. Vitello suggested Washington for the staff.
"I give Tony a lot of credit," Minasian said on KNBR with hosts Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher. "He talks about being a team and filling blind spots as well as possible. ... He originally brought up Wash and was saying, ‘What do you think about bringing Wash in, with his experience?’ ... I think the energy level, the expertise, the experience, just seemed like a no-brainer."
The Giants also have experienced voices like Jayce Tingler in a to-be-announced role, infield coach Ron Wotus, and advisors Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker. The full staff will convene at next week's Winter Meetings, with official announcements expected soon. USA Today's Bob Nightengale first reported the hiring.