The 2026 MLB season hasn’t gone the way Matt Chapman envisioned thus far, but a career day at the plate could be the latest sign that things are turning around for the Giants third baseman.
Chapman led an offensive barrage at Wrigley Field on Friday, homering twice—including a grand slam—and collecting a career-high 8 RBI in San Francisco’s 18-3 rout of the Chicago Cubs.
“No, I didn’t know that,” Chapman told “Giants Postgame Live” hosts Kylen Mills and Shawn Estes following the game when asked if he knew his RBI total was a career best. “That was awesome. It was great to, obviously, hit that grand slam and kind of get us out in front a little bit there. I feel like everybody just kept piling it on from there. So that was a lot of fun.”
Chapman began the current season with just one home run in his first 58 games and his batting average and OPS numbers remained dismal through most of the first two months. But several strong recent performances have those numbers trending upward.
“Obviously, it’s nice for me to feel like I’m contributing,” Chapman told Mills and Estes. “[I’ve] been feeling good lately and been able to do my part and join in on some of this offense.”
Since May 17, Chapman is hitting .303 with a .927 OPS in 18 games and now has three home runs in his past five contests.
““This whole road trip, [I’ve] been feeling a lot better,” Chapman told Mills and Estes. “Felt like the quality at-bats have been better, swinging at the pitches and not missing the pitch as much. Trying to keep it simple, but when…there [are] a lot of guys on base in front of me, it’s fun to hit with guys on base. The offense seems to be contagious right now.
“For me, obviously the season started not the way I would like it to start. But there is a lot of baseball left and I know what I’m capable of doing, so I’m glad that I’m able to feel good right now and feel like I can really help this team.”
Chapman’s surge at the plate coincides with the Giants’ recent offensive hot streak, with the team averaging over six runs per game since that game on May 17. Both will attempt to keep the good times rolling on Saturday in game two of the series at Wrigley Field.