Ron Wotus to retire from coaching at season’s end

On Tuesday, the San Francisco Giants announced that third base coach Ron Wotus would be retiring from full-time coaching at the end of the 2021 season.

In a statement, Wotus thanked the fans and the “greatest organization in baseball,” while specifically mentioning Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, and Brandon Belt, the three longstanding homegrown players still on the roster.

Wotus’ final stint as a professional player came in the late 1980s while in the Giants Minor League system, and he got his start coaching in the early 1990s, as a manager for the San Jose Giants. He worked his way up the Minors, and joined Dusty Baker’s staff in 1998.

He stayed on the coaching staff through four different managers, being the only member of Bruce Bochy’s crew to join Gabe Kapler’s.

The retirement seems to be focused on time and commitment for the 60 year old, who said in his statement that, “It’s time for a bit more balance in my life.” But he won’t be out of the organization, as the Giants announced that they are discussing a baseball operations position for Wotus starting at the end of the season.

He’s had a remarkable run, and it’s not over yet, even if we won’t be seeing his face 162 times a year.