SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Chapman, in his first yr with the Giants, was named the 2024 Willie Mac Award winner.
Voted on by gamers, coaches, coaching workers and followers, the Willie Mac is essentially the most coveted group award the Giants yearly current. Previous winners embody Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Brandon Crawford, J.T. Snow, Mike Krukow, and Matt Cain.
Named after Willie McCovey, the award began in 1980, making this the forty fourth anniversary of the distinction bestowed on essentially the most inspirational Big.
“It means a lot,” Chapman informed reporters pregame. “I think the more and more I learn about it, the more I see the significance of this award and how important it is to this organization. The fact that it’s voted on by people that I care about and they care about me like that, it’s pretty cool.”
Chapman, 31, has hit 27 house runs with three video games remaining and ranks within the prime 10 within the Nationwide League in wins above alternative. He has performed 151 video games, nearly each night time, and earned a six-year, $151 million contract extension along with his regular two-way manufacturing. He leads the Giants in hits, doubles, homers, RBI, walks, runs, further bases, whole bases and video games performed.
One of many sport’s greatest defenders, Chapman may very nicely win his fifth profession Gold Glove award this season.
Chapman joins present Giants Thairo Estrada (2023), Wilmer Flores (2022), LaMonte Wade Jr. (2021), and Mike Yastrzesmki (2020) within the Willie Mac membership. Yastrzemski and Wade stood on the sector for the pregame ceremony, becoming a member of Snow, Marvin Bernard, Dave Dravecky and different former winners as McCovey’s household offered Chapman with the plaque.
“I know this season didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but we’re building here and we’re going to finish strong,” Chapman stated after accepting the award. “And next year, we’re going to start something and we’re not going to stop.”
This month has been significantly eventful for Chapman. He’s on a scorching streak, having hit six house runs in 17 video games, inching towards breaking the franchise’s 20-year drought of a 30-homer season. The Giants have performed their greatest ball, albeit after they’d been eradicated from the postseason. He and his spouse welcomed their first baby and he inked the richest deal the Giants have handed out since Posey’s 2013 extension.
“It’s a cherry on top of a great month,” Chapman stated. “Obviously it’d be better if we were going to the playoffs — that’s my goal and I’m going to work this offseason to make that possible next year. But besides not making the playoffs, it’s been a great month with my daughter and the contract and getting this award. I feel blessed.”
Notable
– The Giants reinstated Randy Rodriguez from the injured listing and optioned Mason Black, formally ending Black’s season after he made his final begin this week. Black pitched in 9 video games, together with eight begins, posting a 6.44 ERA.
– Giants skipper Bob Melvin, who managed the A’s for 11 seasons, stated he watched the complete Athletics’ house finale on the Coliseum from his house.
“It just ended up being one of those days you’ll never forget,” Melvin stated. “And certainly an emotional day. I can’t even imagine what I would’ve felt like being there, it was hard enough watching it on the couch.”
– San Francisco should win two of its final three video games to complete the season .500. In Farhan Zaidi’s tenure in San Francisco, the Giants have had three shedding seasons, a .500 marketing campaign and the record-setting, 107-win 2021 run.
Initially Printed: September 27, 2024 at 6:57 p.m.
