Giants re-assign third base coach Hector Borg amid team’s baserunning struggles

The San Francisco Giants are reassigning embattled third base coach Hector Borg and replacing him with longtime coach and special assistant Ron Wotus, the team announced Friday afternoon ahead of a three-game series at the Colorado Rockies.

Borg isn’t the primary reason the Giants are 12 games under .500, have the worst offense in the major leagues, and have been a colossal disappointment under rookie manager Tony Vitello.

On the list of biggest issues plaguing the Giants, the third base coach barely makes the front page. But the Giants somehow have to rebuild confidence and trust within their ranks, and after several questionable decisions in the third base coaching box, Borg’s reputation was likely beyond rescue.

Wotus coached third base for four games last week while Borg was in the Dominican Republic to attend funeral services for his grandmother. Wotus, the longest-tenured coach in franchise history, also coached third as recently as 2020-21 under then-manager Gabe Kapler.

Wotus made a seamless transition last week and made several baserunning decisions that worked out. It hadn’t turned out that way for Borg, who has come under fire for several decisions for a team that ranks last in the major leagues in multiple baserunning metrics.

The last straw came in the eighth inning of a 3-2 home loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday when Borg waved around Willy Adames into an easy out at the plate. Luis Arraez was subsequently picked off second base, taking the bat out of Casey Schmitt’s hands.

Borg was the last coach to be added to Vitello‘s staff before spring training. A former Giants minor league player, Borg has risen through the minor league coaching ranks and is held in high esteem, especially in the Dominican Republic, where he has managed winter ball and led the country to a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. Vitello did not know Borg prior to the start of spring training, but agreed to have him on his staff because the front office didn’t want to lose him to another organization.