MILWAUKEE — Not only is Ron Wotus the longest tenured coach in Giants franchise history, he’s also the ultimate team guy and somewhat of a troubleshooter.

Wotus stepped in as the interim third-base coach Friday when the Giants reassigned Hector Borg. Wotus couldn’t accept the gig full time because of family reasons but certainly was willing to take on the role until a permanent coach could be found.

Tuesday, the Giants announced the hiring of Gary Pettis, who’ll join the club Wednesday in Milwaukee and presumably take on the third-base coaching duties by the next series at Wrigley Field.

“First off, I really enjoyed my time here,” Wotus said of joining the team on the road. “I enjoyed being with the guys, I enjoyed competing again. So it’s been a lot of fun for me. But there are just things going on in my life family-wise that don’t allow me the freedom and the time to commit every day to the position.”

Wotus said he was glad the Giants chose Pettis, the longtime coach who began playing in the big leagues (with the 1982 Angels) shortly before Wotus broke in (1983 Pirates). Pettis, 68, is three years older than Wotus and hasn’t coached in the majors since 2024, but he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, which wasn’t the case with Borg, who repeatedly struggled with sending and holding runners.

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Wotus has coached under six Giants managers, from Dusty Baker to Felipe Alou to Bruce Bochy to Gabe Kapler to Bob Melvin to Tony Vitello.

During those years, the most dramatic change in coaching staffs, before Vitello’s arrival, came with the transition from Bochy to Kapler when all new coaches came aboard, mostly young and inexperienced. Wotus was the exception, a resourceful asset for the rest of the staff that knew little about the big-league lifestyle, etiquette, and travel dos and don’ts.

Wotus has had a variety of jobs under the managers, and now his title is senior adviser under president of baseball operations Buster Posey. Last year, Wotus continued to suit up and assist in pregame workouts and, during games, sat with the rest of Posey’s inner circle in an extended Oracle Park booth along broadcast row.

After spring training, Wotus was asked to move to the dugout for home games and be available alongside Vitello, a rookie manager. He wasn’t supposed to travel, but his schedule abruptly changed. When Posey chose to replace Borg, he asked the reliable Wotus to meet the team in Denver.

At the ballparks in Denver and Milwaukee, the Giants’ dugout has been along the third-base line, a short walk for Wotus. At Wrigley Field, it’s more of a hike. The visitors’ dugout is on the first-base side. That would have been a task for Wotus, who hasn’t done any running since undergoing foot surgery in December. Another reason he’s perfectly OK with Pettis coming aboard.

“I have to admit, I was looking forward to doing this again in Chicago but glad we have [Pettis] in place,” Wotus said. “I told Buster I’m here to help. Whatever you need.”

Pettis came highly recommended from Giants special assistant Dusty Baker, who managed in Houston during the time Pettis was on the Astros’ coaching staff. Pettis also served on the Rangers’ staff when they were managed by Ron Washington, now the Giants’ infield coach who was pleased to hear Pettis is coming aboard.

Pettis is an Oakland native who played at Castlemont High School and Laney College. He was an outfielder for 11 years in the big leagues with the Angels, Tigers, Rangers, and Padres, won five Gold Glove awards, and stole 354 bases. He stole 40 or more bases five times and 50 or more twice, so he should be a resource on a team that could afford to swipe more bags.

Pettis has 27 years of coaching experience, including 22 in the majors, and coached on six World Series teams (four with Houston, two with Texas), winning two rings with the Astros. He missed time in the 2020 and 2021 seasons while receiving treatments for multiple myeloma.

When the Giants return for their next homestand, Wotus will be back in the dugout.

“That hasn’t changed,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”