SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants are hoping a recent division rival can turn them back into a contender.
Bob Melvin, a Bay Area native and former Giants player who also managed a decade in Oakland, was formally announced as San Francisco’s new manager Wednesday.
That completed a whirlwind few days in which the Giants received permission to interview him from the division rival San Diego Padres, where the veteran skipper had one more year on his contract.
I could not be more excited to come back to the Bay Area and manage this great organization.”
-Bob Melvin on managing the San Francisco Giants.
“I could not be more excited to come back to the Bay Area and manage this great organization,” Melvin said in a statement. “I’d like to thank Greg Johnson, Farhan Zaidi and Larry Baer for giving me the opportunity to add another chapter to my Giants career. This is a tremendous opportunity and a great responsibility to lead this organization and I’m eager to get started.”
Three-time Manager of the Year
Melvin, a three-time Manager of the Year who has won the award in both leagues, went 171-153 with the big-spending Padres and will enter his 21st season as a manager next year.
He has a career record of 1,517-1,425 with eight postseason appearances while guiding Arizona, Seattle, Oakland and San Diego.
A native of nearby Palo Alto, California, Melvin attended the University of California-Berkeley and played for his hometown Giants from 1986-88.
He replaces Gabe Kapler, fired with three days remaining in the season. Kapler was 295-248 over three-plus seasons, leading the team to a franchise-record 107 wins to edge the 106-win Dodgers for the NL West title in 2021 before missing the playoffs the last two years.
“Bob Melvin is one of the most well-respected managers and people in baseball today,” said Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi. “He brings a wealth of baseball acumen from all of his experience in the game, first as player and then over the last 20-plus years as a manager or coach. Having worked with Bob in the past I have seen firsthand the positive impacts that he has on a team and an organization. I’m thrilled to be working with him once again and can’t wait to get started.”
