Chapman, Bailey take home Gold Glove Awards

3:02 AM UTC

Third baseman and catcher earned a 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award at their respective position on Sunday night, marking the first time the Giants have had multiple winners since 2016.

Chapman won his fifth career Gold Glove Award, his second in a row after leading Major League third basemen with 17 defensive runs saved this year. The 31-year-old veteran also tied for the MLB lead with 11 outs above average at third base, helping him become the third Giant to win a Gold Glove at the hot corner, after Matt Williams (1991, '93 and '94) and Jim Davenport (1962).

Chapman also joined Williams and Robin Ventura as the only third basemen to win Gold Gloves in both leagues.

“It means a lot,” Chapman said during a Zoom call with reporters on Sunday night. “[Nolan Arenado’s] dominated the National League Gold Glove for a long time. Ke’Bryan Hayes won it last year. I think a lot of really good defensive third basemen are stacked in the National League. I was able to come over here and win it, so I thought that was pretty cool. To get one in the American League and the National League now means a lot. I’m really excited about it. I think the competition in the National League this year for third base was really tough.”

The hardware capped a banner year for Chapman, who landed a six-year, $151 million extension in September after batting .247/.328/.463 with a team-high 27 home runs, 78 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in his first season in San Francisco. Chapman’s new deal will keep him in a Giants uniform through the 2030 season, giving him plenty more opportunities to add to his trophy case in the future.

The same could be said for the 25-year-old Bailey, who picked up his first career Gold Glove Award after leading all Major League players with a +22 fielding run value in his sophomore season for the Giants. Bailey also paced MLB backstops with 16 catcher framing runs and 20 DRS, twice as many as 2023 Gold Glove winner Gabriel Moreno, who ranked second in the NL for the D-backs this year.

“That’s something I’ve taken a lot of pride in,” Bailey said. “I was obviously a little frustrated not getting it last year. I got to work and wanted to improve in all aspects and was just really excited to be able to win it this year.”

In addition to his elite framing skills, Bailey excelled at controlling the running game, tying for the fastest average pop time (1.85 seconds) in the Majors and finishing second behind the Dodgers’ Will Smith (10) with nine runners caught stealing above average in 2024. The 2020 first-round Draft pick is the fourth catcher to win a Gold Glove for the Giants, joining new president of baseball operations Buster Posey (2016), Mike Matheny (2005) and Kirt Manwaring (1993).

“Watching his quick transfer and his ability to pick balls like he’s a middle infielder and throw guys out at second base, it’s fun to watch,” Chapman said. “I’m always excited when guys take off to second base and watch Patrick get to throw them out.”

Bailey, a 2020 first-round Draft pick, is the fourth catcher to win a Gold Glove for the Giants, joining new president of baseball operations Buster Posey (2016), Mike Matheny (2005) and Kirt Manwaring (1993).

Mike Yastrzemski was also named a Gold Glove finalist in right field this year, but he was edged out by Sal Frelick of the Brewers. Still, Chapman and Bailey gave the Giants their most winners in a single season since 2016, when Posey, second baseman Joe Panik and shortstop Brandon Crawford all took home a Gold Glove.

All 30 MLB managers and up to six coaches from each team vote from a pool of players in their league, excluding players from their own team, to determine the Gold Glove winners. Those votes comprise 75% of the selection total, with the SABR Defensive Index counting for the other 25%.