Matt Cain. Tim Lincecum. Madison Bumgarner. Logan Webb?
The Giants could have another homegrown ace as soon as 2022 Opening Day with Webb, who turns 25 in November.
San Francisco’s season came to a tear-jerking end Thursday night with a controversial finish in a 2-1 loss to the Dodgers, but Webb did his part. He tossed seven spectacular innings of one-run ball and earned some dubious praise from Dodgers hero Cody Bellinger, who told TBS after the game, “Huge props to Logan Webb, man. He was really hard to hit. He shoved it up our butt twice.”
Ah, a fine show of respect from your rival.
The Giants will likely have a revamped rotation in 2022, as Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood are all free agents who are sure to draw interest on the open market. San Francisco holds a $22 million club option for Johnny Cueto next season but can also exit the deal with a $5 million buyout, which seems more likely.
Then there’s Webb, who made $583,000 this season and doesn’t hit arbitration until 2023. With his performance under pressure, wicked-moving sinker, slider and devastating changeup, Webb has the makeup to be the No. 1 guy for the Giants going forward, regardless who they sign from this offseason’s star-studded starting pitcher free-agent class.
Considering Webb briefly lost his rotation spot in April, the 2021 campaign proved to be crucial to his professional development. Ditto for his fellow future franchise star, Camilo Doval.
The high-octane righty Doval eventually entered in the eighth inning Thursday before giving up the game-winning run on a Bellinger single in the ninth. Once the Giants filed into the locker room following Wilmer Flores’ infamous check swing, Webb made a beeline for his fellow 24-year-old.
“The first thing I did was I went in and gave [Doval] a hug, just because he feels awful, which is kind of brutal because he pitched so good for us,” Webb said. “He did so well, and for that to happen, like for him to be the guy who gave up the run, it just, it sucks. But he's going to be a big part of this team for a long time.”
Listen to Bay Area sports talk now on Audacy and shop the latest Giants team gear
Jake McGee might have led the Giants with 42 games finished and 31 saves this year. The southpaw is signed to a bargain $2.5 million deal in 2022 and the Giants hold a $4.5 million team option in 2023. Still, Game 3 may have been a passing-of-the-torch moment to Doval, when he secured a six-up, six-down save in Chavez Ravine.
The ninth inning could -- and probably should -- belong to the right-hander now. Once he returned from Triple-A Sacramento for his fourth and final MLB stint down the stretch, he dominated his way to National League Pitcher of the Month honors in September. His combination of triple-digit heat and his wipeout slider are simply unfair. Like Webb, Doval has also drawn tremendous praise for his unfazed demeanor on the mound.
The 2021 postseason only lasted five games for the Giants, but could be remembered as the launching pad for their future ace, Webb, and future closer, Doval.