Former MLB reliever Jesse Chavez ready for new challenge as SF Giants’ bullpen coach

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — The roots of Jesse Chavez’s first coaching job after an 18-year playing career can be traced back to, of all places, video games.

It was 2018, and Chavez was pitching for the Texas Rangers, one of nine teams he pitched for in his career. One night, Chavez, an avid gamer, hopped on to play Call of Duty with fellow pitcher Mike Minor. Minor said he had a friend named Quentin Eberhardt who wanted to join their party; Chavez was on board.

Over virtual combat, Chavez and Eberhardt formed a virtual friendship. Four years later, they finally met when Chavez was traded to the Chicago Cubs, who employed Eberhardt as head strength and conditioning coach. The two continued gaming, and their relationship continued growing stronger.

Fast-forward to this past fall, when Eberhardt was having lunch with Tony Vitello. Eberhardt and Vitello worked together at Tennessee, and they’d be coworkers once again in San Francisco. Vitello needed a bullpen coach; Eberhardt had just the guy.

Not that Eberhardt really needed to do any convincing.

“You look at what he’s done in his career, you look at who he is as a human, it’s like one plus one equals two. I didn’t do anything — Jesse did,” Eberhardt said. “Jesse’s done everything in his career. He works his butt off. He’s a great human. He’s great with people, great with communicating, knows the game and wants to help the game.”

“To play on national television and be on winning teams and get asked for autographs and interviews, it can inflate your ego — and it probably should a little bit,” said Vitello. “But to come in and put that in your back pocket; be one of the guys; offer up good advice when it’s asked for; and take a back seat and just listen even though your knowledge is probably off the charts … it’s been a really refreshing balance.”

Chavez, 42, joins the Giants as Vitello’s bullpen coach immediately following a true journeyman career in the majors that spanned nearly two decades. He was drafted in the 42nd round — a round that no longer exists — of the 2002 MLB draft by the Texas Rangers but didn’t make his debut until ‘08 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Over the years, he suited up for the Pirates, Braves, Royals, Blue Jays, A’s, Dodgers, Angels, Rangers and Cubs.

The right-hander spent multiple seasons with all of those teams aside from the Dodgers but seldom stayed in one place for too long. Still, it wasn’t uncommon for Chavez to reunite with teams later down the line, evidenced by him having multiple stints with the Blue Jays, Rangers, Braves, Cubs and Angels.

Chavez had five different stints with Atlanta, one of which saw him win a World Series in 2021. Chavez’s final outing, appropriately enough, was last July with the Braves. After being designated for assignment on July 17, 2025, Chavez officially announced his retirement a week later.

To Chavez, the reason that teams wanted him back was because of his demeanor as a teammate.

“Obviously, we have those moments where we walk out of the field clumping our fists, but I was never too low,” Chavez said. “I was on a one-year contract my entire career, for the most part. Part of it was minor league deals, so I didn’t have the chance or the luxury to do that, or kick the dirt around or stuff like that. There were certain points in my career where I got to the point where I could do that, but even then, I caught myself like, ‘What are you doing?’

“So I just think it was how I presented myself out there and showed who I was being on the inside.”

Chavez hadn’t been retired for five months when he replaced Garvin Alston as the Giants’ new bullpen coach. He considered last summer to be his gap year, and while he joked that his daughters got tired of him, his main motivation to jump into coaching was the uncertainty surrounding the 2027 season.

In Chavez’s estimation, if he didn’t coach in 2026 and the ‘27 season was lost due to the impending labor battle, that meant he would’ve been out of the game for two-and-a-half years. As his playing career wound down, Chavez intentionally targeted the ‘26 season as his introduction to coaching.

Chavez is approaching coaching the same way he approached being a good teammate. His philosophies are simple: show up every day, forget yesterday, prepare for today. Chavez’s title is different, but he doesn’t want to fall into the trap of changing who he is just because he’s coaching and not playing.

“I feel like I’ve seen it too many times where you get into the coaches’ box, and now all of a sudden, it’s got to be a different thing. No, no,” Chavez said. “I feel like those ones kind of run their way out. So, I don’t want to do that. I don’t want them to think, ‘Oh, he was this, and I heard all this, and then now, all of a sudden, he’s going to do this.’ I don’t work that way. It’s one way I never believed in.”

Chavez is tasked with guiding a bullpen that projects to be a legitimate weakness. San Francisco’s relievers finished fourth in the majors in ERA last season, but this unit will be without several arms from last season.

Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers were traded, while All-Star Randy Rodríguez will be out until 2027 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The Giants signed left-hander Sam Hentges and right-hander Jason Foley, but Foley is out until midseason while Hentges is doubtful for Opening Day. Left-hander Erik Miller is also dealing with a back ailment that could keep him off the Opening Day roster as well.

“I think you try to keep an open mind,” said general manager Zack Minasian. “We think there’s arm talent on the 40-man roster. We think there’s some non-roster invites that have come in with arm talent as well.”

Chavez had his own arm talent back in his playing career, but his intellect has allowed for a long career and, now, his first shot at coaching. When Chavez was asked about coaches who influenced him, he spoke for three straight minutes as he rattled off a handful of names, from his college coach Dennis Rogers to the late Hector Ortiz. In San Francisco, he’s trying to pay it forward.

As for video game talent? There’s no debating who’s got more skill between him and Eberhardt.

“That’s not even a question,” Eberhardt said. “I love him. That’s my brother, but it’s not even a question. He’ll tell you that.”