Chapman earns '24 Willie Mac Award: 'I've just been blessed'

SAN FRANCISCO -- It’s been an unforgettable September for Matt Chapman.

The Giants’ third baseman opened the month by signing a six-year, $151 million contract extension that will keep him in San Francisco through the 2030 season. Two weeks later, he became a father, as he and his wife, Taylor, welcomed their first child -- a daughter named Gia -- on Sept. 18.

He was showered with another gift on Friday night, when the Giants named him the recipient of the 2024 Willie Mac Award, which is presented annually to the most inspirational player on the team, as voted on by San Francisco players, coaches, training staff, clubhouse staff and fans.

Chapman joined Mike Yastrzemski (2020), LaMonte Wade Jr. ('21), Wilmer Flores ('22) and Thairo Estrada ('23) as active members of the organization who have received the Willie Mac Award, which was established in 1980 in honor of beloved Hall of Fame first baseman Willie McCovey.

“It means a lot,” Chapman told reporters before Friday night’s 6-3 loss to the Cardinals at Oracle Park. “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 the organization.

“Obviously, I was super excited. It’s just been a cherry on top of a great month. Obviously, it’d be better if we were going to the playoffs. That’s my goal. 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’ve just been blessed.”

The Giants surprised Chapman by playing a special video message from Taylor, who cradled baby Gia in her arms and said, “We just want to say that we’re so proud of you. You’re the hardest-working person I know, and you’re always showing up for everyone in your life. You’re such an inspiration on and off the field.”

While Taylor couldn’t make the trip from Arizona, Chapman’s parents, Jim and Lisa, flew in for the occasion and joined their son at home plate for the lineup card exchange.

While the Giants have endured another disappointing season as a whole, they’ve received consistent excellence from Chapman, who is batting .246 with a .787 OPS and a team-high 27 home runs. He also leads the club in doubles (37), hits (140), RBIs (78) and extra-base hits (66) and has delivered his usual Gold Glove-caliber defense at third, yielding a 7.0 bWAR that ranked second in the National League behind only Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani entering Friday.

A longtime favorite of Bob Melvin, who previously managed him in Oakland, Chapman took some time to settle in after signing with the Giants halfway through Spring Training, but he soon emerged as an invaluable tone-setter for the club. He appeared in 152 of the Giants’ first 160 games and has helped keep it loose in the clubhouse, where he dons a referee jersey and awards free throws to the players of the game after each win. He also orchestrated the annual rookie dress-up day last week, selecting Oompa Loompa costumes for the team’s newcomers to wear on the flight from Kansas City to Arizona.

The Giants hope Chapman’s blend of veteran leadership and durability on the field will help set an example for younger players within the organization and give them a foundational piece to build around moving forward. Chapman has already pledged to assist in recruiting efforts this offseason and help the Giants bring in free agents who can supplement the young core of position players that graduated onto their big league roster in 2024.

“I think a year of building relationships with these guys, they probably are more comfortable with each other,” Chapman said. “We’ve got more respect for each other. We’ve been through it together. So now I think some of the things that we had to kind of go through this year, we don’t have to necessarily go through as much of that [next] year, and now we can take it to another level. I don’t know exactly how it’s all going to work out, but I know that I’m going to be here for a long time and I can really sink my teeth into trying to bring the best out of this team.”