Tony Vitello’s first experience as a San Francisco Giants fan was nothing short of spectacular, with the team’s new manager winning over the crowd with his charm and professionalism.

Rami Hasad, a 43-year-old San Mateo resident, expressed his enthusiasm during the Giants’ San Jose FanFest, which marked the team’s first event of the winter. “There’s so much excitement, and he’s a real professional,” Hasad said. “I’m sure he’s going to enjoy the process – we’re welcoming him with open arms.”

Hasad and his partner, Katey Marsh, 41, were celebrating their first anniversary at the event. Marsh specifically came to see Vitello, noting that his energy felt very much in line with the Bay Area vibe. “His energy is very Bay Area,” she said.

Giants fans are eager to see how Vitello adapts from his collegiate coaching role at Tennessee to the major leagues, a transition that has never been done before in baseball history.

Gary Christensen, 74, of Santa Clara, who attended the event with his son Brian, shared his positive impressions. “I had questions before, and after hearing him, I feel pretty positive,” Christensen said. “I thought he said all the right things, he’s very well spoken. The transition from college to the majors, that’s a big jump, but I think he’s got a lot of resources.”

Marsh added, “I think you always give someone a chance. He seems like he has a big heart for who he’s about to develop and build relationships with, and building relationships is probably the most important thing you can do, especially as someone who’s never coached in the majors.”

Vitello was delighted by the warm reception from an estimated crowd of 5,500 to 6,000 people. During a Q-and-A session on stage, he remarked, “The turnout has been phenomenal, the energy matches it. … It’s really my first time getting to be around a group of Giants fans, and I’m impressed.”

He joked, “I think if this is like how it’s going to be during the season, we might raise a little hell.”

Christensen and Hasad both pointed out that while Vitello is new to the big leagues, he has the support of Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy, both team special advisers. “The notes app in my phone I’ve rarely used in the past, but I have used it with those two guys in particular,” Vitello said. “So far, Bruce and Dusty have been so kind with their time to me. I hope they don’t dislike me in the future, because I plan to wear them out with a bunch of questions.”

Vitello has also reached out to Will Clark and Barry Bonds, among others. He still feels a sense of awe when talking to these legends, often calling friends afterward to share the experience.

Vitello is still getting to know his players, meeting reliever Ryan Walker for the first time on Saturday. He remains open-minded about the bullpen, emphasizing the importance of having multiple relief options. During a pre-event media session, he noted that Walker could be used to close games or pitch in high-leverage situations earlier in games, depending on matchups.

Vitello has spent significant time with shortstop Willy Adames, visiting him in the Dominican Republic and then traveling to South Korea to meet Jung Hoo Lee and participate in a cultural exchange with much of the front office. A highlight for Vitello was meeting Lee’s parents, Jong Beom and Jung Min, whose family nickname is “Son of the Wind” and “Grandson of the Wind,” respectively.

The focus now is on preparing for spring training and the regular season. “You’re going to take punches, but you also want to deliver punches,” Vitello said. “Hopefully we can deliver more punches than we took last year; 81-81 was kind of right on that fence.”

The Giants are certainly aware of the challenge posed by the Dodgers, who have won the World Series for the past two years and continue to add stars, including outfielder Kyle Tucker, this winter’s top free agent.

“You don’t have to really follow the offseason closely to know that their organization, a couple others, are going to spend a lot of money,” Vitello said. “I’m wearing orange and black. I’m looking at some guys that I’m excited to work with that are wearing orange and black. We’ll see who shows up at spring training, because there’s a few days between now and then, something may change, something may not.”

“The group that we have, I know the level of excitement will be incredibly high. You could argue dollars and cents, talent and things like that, but I think there’s a fresh air involved with some of the changes that we need to capitalize on.”

This sentiment was clearly evident among the fans at the event. “When we were driving here today, I just got teary-eyed because it means baseball is starting,” Marsh said. “I’m so freaking excited.”