Wotus retiring as full-time coach at end of '21

SAN FRANCISCO -- Ron Wotus, the longest-tenured coach in Giants history who has spent 34 years with the organization, announced on Tuesday that he will be stepping away from full-time coaching at the end of this season.

“I love this game. I love this team. I love the organization,” Wotus said. “I’m grateful that I’m in a position to do this. I'm going to miss it. It was not an easy decision by no means, but I just feel it’s time for me.”

Wotus said one of the reasons he’s stepping away from the game is so that he can have more balance in his life. He shared a personal anecdote when discussing the responsibilities of being a coach. On a recent off-day, Wotus had the opportunity to travel to Connecticut and wish his mother a happy birthday in-person for the first time since his high school days.

“My wife, Laurie, and my family have been there for me through all the ups and downs, all the travel and long hours, and now, I want to be there for them,” Wotus wrote in a statement.

While Wotus will be stepping away from his full-time coaching responsibilities, he is expecting to remain with the Giants in some capacity. Wotus and the Giants have yet to discuss what that role might entail, but the coach cited that he still has a passion for helping and developing players.

When asked why he made the decision now opposed to later, Wotus said he believed it was best to be transparent instead of running the risk of the news potentially being leaked.

Manager Gabe Kapler, who was hired after the 2019 season, described Wotus as the core piece of the coaching staff that he assembled. For Kapler, Wotus not only helped bridge the gap from one manager to the next, but he had an institutional knowledge of the returning players from Bruce Bochy’s tenure.

“He’s warm. He’s got an incredible sense of humor,” Kapler said. “This game can be stressful when you get into August and September. It’s a lot of games and we’re in a pennant race. You need somebody to make people smile, and he’s excellent at that. He’s diligent. He’s prepared. He knows the opposition. All of the reasons he was successful as a member of Bruce Bochy’s staff, the same reasons that he’s been successful with our group.”

Over the past three-and-a-half decades with San Francisco, Wotus has worked under Dusty Baker, Felipe Alou, Bochy and Kapler, helping the team win World Series championships in 2010, '12 and '14. Wotus, an infielder in his playing days, had a hand in helping several infielders win Gold Glove Awards, such as Brandon Crawford and J.T. Snow.

“I wouldn’t want to have it any other way,” Wotus said of his coaching career unfolding entirely in San Francisco. “A couple times, I didn't know if I’d be back. I had opportunities to leave as well, but my heart was always with the Giants. I think it’s special. I’m pretty loyal as an individual, and I think it's much more rewarding to be with one organization.”

Following his playing career, Wotus managed at various levels of San Francisco’s Minor League system from 1991-97, twice being named Manager of the Year for his league. Wotus’ time on the Giants' big league staff began in 1998, starting as the third-base coach, then serving as bench coach from 1999-2017 and then transitioning back to third-base coach in '18.

Wotus is one of only six people to serve as a coach for the Giants for at least 10 years, joining Mark Gardner, Larry Jansen, Bob Lillis, Dave Righetti and Wes Westrum. Earlier this season, Wotus became the second coach in franchise history to reach 2,000 wins, joining illustrious manager John McGraw.

“We are all very grateful for Ron’s contributions to the Giants -- both on and off the field,” San Francisco president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said in a statement. “Ron has made a lasting impact on a countless number of players during his 34 years, and his dedication to his craft is second to none. It has been an honor to have Ron coach in San Francisco over two decades and we know the entire Giants fan base joins us in wishing him the best.”