SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — The San Francisco Giants have appointed Hunter Mense as their new hitting coach, aiming to enhance their offensive performance in the upcoming 2025 season. Mense, previously an assistant hitting coach with the Toronto Blue Jays, joins a team that has struggled to score runs over the past four years, ranking 20th in runs scored since 2022.
Mense’s coaching philosophy reflects a blend of intuition and analytics. He believes in utilizing various strategies to help players improve, stating, “If you’re just limiting yourself to one of those things, you’re in a tough spot.” He emphasizes that his primary goal is to maximize run production, asserting, “Whatever the ways that we get across and score the most runs is going to be the best way for that day.”
The Giants have faced challenges in their offensive output, finishing 22nd in on-base plus slugging (OPS) and 19th in weighted runs created-plus (wRC+) during the last season. Mense’s experience with the Blue Jays, who excelled offensively in 2025, positions him well to address these shortcomings. The Blue Jays finished third in OPS and fourth in runs scored, powered by players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who contributed significantly to their success.
Hunter Mense observed a trend in successful playoff teams: the importance of contact-oriented hitters who can adapt to various game situations. He noted the effectiveness of players with high contact rates, such as Luis Arraez and Jung Hoo Lee, who both demonstrated exceptional batting skills in 2025. Arraez led the league with the highest contact rate and the lowest strikeout rate, while Lee was also among the top hitters in these categories.
Mense intends to build on the existing talent within the Giants’ roster, encouraging players known for their power, like Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman, to develop additional skills. He expressed the belief that enhancing their batting abilities will provide more versatility during games, saying, “If any guy can add anything to their tool belt, it’s a plus.”
Having worked with the Giants’ rookie manager Tony Vitello for over two decades, Mense is familiar with the team’s culture and expectations. He fondly recalled their history, stating, “Seeing the success that he always had, I think the intensity was something that kind of always played through — and the competitiveness.”
As Mense settles into his new role, he has taken a lighthearted approach to remembering names within the organization. He employs a mnemonic device by likening himself to former player Hunter Pence, who also played in the minor leagues. Mense reminisced about a memorable encounter with Pence during spring training, highlighting the connection that has followed him throughout his career.
The Giants are counting on Mense’s leadership and innovative strategies to rejuvenate their offense as they prepare for the upcoming season. With a focus on scoring runs and improving individual player performance, he aims to steer the team back to competitiveness in the league.
