Logan Webb didn’t enter this year with the specific goal of winning a Gold Glove Award. But when the Giants ace arrived in Scottsdale for spring training, he prioritized playing better defense, generally, and holding runners on base, specifically.

Now, Webb and catcher Patrick Bailey are adding some hardware to their shelves.

Bailey and Webb were named National League Gold Glove Award winners at their respective positions on Sunday evening, becoming the first battery to win the hardware in the same year since catcher Yadier Molina and pitcher Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013.

“I just wanted to get better at (playing defense),” Webb said. “I didn’t necessarily think it would result in a Gold Glove, but I always thought maybe I could do it. I feel like I get enough ground balls hit to me and a lot of get overs. I just kind of had to fix some of the other stuff. So, it’s a really cool accomplishment and I’m super excited about it.”

Bailey, who won the award in 2024, becomes the first catcher in franchise history to win the award multiple times, and it’s very possible he becomes the first Giant to win the Platinum Glove as well. Buster Posey won it once, in 2016, when he broke Molina’s string of eight consecutive gold gloves. Bailey also is first Giant to win the honor in back-to-back years since Brandon Crawford won three straight from 2015-17.

Webb, who led the majors in innings and the N.L. in strikeouts, becomes the second Giant pitcher to win the award in franchise history, joining Rick Reuschel (1987). With a Gold Glove now on his résumé, Webb joked that he plans on doing a little bragging with Bailey, Crawford and five-time Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman.

“To be able to say you’re … the best defender at your position in your league is pretty cool,” Webb said. “I always watched Craw and Chappy and Patty’s going to win it many more times. Seeing these guys do it, it’s a huge part of baseball and it’s a huge part of what the Giants try to be. I think that’s why we’ve had so many (Gold Glove Award winners) around here. It’s cool to be a part of that now.

“Now, when people watch the game, I get that little Gold Glove next to my name when they show the defensive positioning.”

Bailey cemented himself as one of the best defenders in the majors, regardless of position, by turning in one of the best statistical defensive seasons in the Statcast era this year.

Over a career-high 132 games, Bailey had a Fielding Run Value of +31, the most in a single season by any defender regardless of position since 2018. Last season, Bailey’s +28 Fielding Run Value also led the majors.

Much of Bailey’s defensive value derived from his elite framing ability. Even with a smaller strike zone, Bailey was worth +25 Catcher Framing Runs, eclipsing the +23 Catcher Framing Runs he was worth last season.

Along with the framing, Bailey continued to boast one of the best arms in baseball. Bailey threw out a career-high 27 runners attempting to steal, his pop time of 1.86 seconds being tied for the best in the majors.

Bailey’s elite framing and throwing was a continuation of what he’s done since making his debut, but he also made a significant leap as a blocker.

As a rookie, Bailey was one of the worst blockers in the league and was worth -9 Blocks Above Average. After making improving in his sophomore season (-1 Blocks Above Average), Bailey transformed himself into an above-average blocker (+5 Blocks Above Average) this season.

“I feel like he just keeps getting better,” Webb said. “It’s fun to watch him do his work every day. He works hard at his craft.”

While Bailey has long been one of baseball’s best defenders, Webb made significant strides this season en route to winning his first Gold Glove.

Webb allowed 41 stolen bases in 2023 and 2024, one of eight pitchers in the majors who allowed at least 40 steals. This season, by contrast, Webb only allowed nine steals and led all National League pitchers with seven defensive runs saved. From 2019-24, Webb was worth -4 defensive runs saved.

The right-hander referred to his start on June 23, 2024 against the St. Louis Cardinals as the low point of his inability to prevent runners from swiping bags. Allowing five steals over six innings to the Cardinals was bad enough, but one of those steals belonged to catcher Pedro Pagés, who only swiped six bags in the minors.

Webb wanted to curb that trend this season and began that work during spring training. He worked on this area of his game during bullpens and live batting practice, mixing up times and holding for as long as possible after coming set. Webb said there wasn’t one specific conversation that made things click, citing conversations he had with former manager Bob Melvin and other coaches.

The right-hander also spoke with former first-base coach Antoan Richardson when the Giants played the New York Mets in Queens. Webb allowed three steals to the Mets during his start on July 25, and Webb credited Richardson’s ability as a baserunning coach. Richardson, interestingly enough, won’t return to New York in 2026 and could warrant consideration from new manager Tony Vitello as he builds his coaching staff.

“I just felt like there was an extra focus on it, and I just wanted to be better,” Webb said. “At the end of the day, it helps personally. Talking to guys, there’s some stats that if I keep a runner at first base X amount of times and I give up a base hit, that base hit turns into just first and second instead of a guy scoring a run. I think it helped me and helped the team stay in games, and that’s all I really wanted to do.”