By Jack Loder
In 24 hours, Logan Webb and the Giants will take the field to embark on another campaign in front of a packed Oracle Park, and millions of Netflix subscribers across the globe. Opening Days (and nights) are full of firsts every year, but Tony Vitello’s unprecedented managerial debut marks an especially unique inaugural ballgame.
When the dust settles after the game tomorrow night, he’ll be the first ever college manager turned big league skipper to own a win-loss record. Tomorrow’s lineup card will be delivered to a home plate meeting featuring Aaron Boone, in a stadium with a third deck. Nearly six months after he made the historic leap, Vitello and his army will finally be able to put rubber to the road at 5:05.
Logan Webb will take the ball for his fifth straight Opening Day start, a streak that now spans three managers. He’s been an excellent leader of the Giants rotation over the last decade, but fans should hope 2026 is the year he makes the jump from league average ace to bona fide Cy Young candidate. With the elite stuff and big game pedigree Webb possesses, there’s no reason he can’t win the award.
Another Opening day note, and a hats off round of applause for one of the quirkiest stats in franchise history. For the first time since Barry Bonds started back to back Opening Days in left field from 2006-07, the Giants will have the same left fielder start back to back Opening Days. Heliot Ramos, who made his first Opening Day start in Cincinnati last year, will do so again on Wednesday night.
Tony Vitello told reporters that Bryce Eldridge handled his demotion to Minor League camp like a pro when it became apparent last week that the Giants’ top prospect would begin the season in triple-A. Eldridge said all the right things, but if the past two days are any indication, the young slugger may have internalized his demotion as a slight. Eldridge blasted a home run against the Giants on Sunday in an exhibition, and then followed it up with another opposite field tape measure blast on Monday night in one of the last two exhibitions with the Sultanes of Monterrey Mexico.
If he does what he’s always done in the minor leagues, rake anyone and everyone, his stint with the RiverCats won’t be long. Eldridge will be back in orange and black before the end of April.
This Giants team figures to boast more power than many of its recent predecessors. Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, Heliot Ramos and Matt Chapman highlight the impressive slugging potential. But the long ball pedigree doesn’t stop there. There’s Eldridge whenever he joins the fold. Harrison Bader has some pop, and Jung Hoo Lee and Patrick Bailey can get into one from time to time.
Casey Schmitt is another intriguing power bat. He joined Silver and JD on Monday, and was made aware of a promising prediction JD had floated earlier in the show, The always confident Schmitt agreed, 20 homers is a benchmark he can absolutely get to with the right amount of at bats.
JD thinks we could see a 20 home run season from Casey Schmitt this season. Casey Schmitt agrees.
— KNBR (@KNBR) March 23, 2026
"I had 12 in like 300 at bats last year... what's 200 more ABs gonna do?"
(via @greg0silver & @JDJohnDickinson) pic.twitter.com/hgEd5jSLwF
Willy Adames got in on the fun as well. He launched his first home run at Oracle Park since his famous 30th of the season last September.
Final cuts were made on Tuesday, as the Giants trimmed down their roster to 25 ahead of Opening Night. Tristan Beck, Spencer Bivens, Will Brennan, Drew Gilbert, Trevor McDonald, and Carson Seymour all won’t be with the big league club on Opening Day.
