Matt Chapman (26) at third as the San Francisco Giants played the New York Yankees in their 2026 Opening Day at Oracle Park in San Francisco, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
DENVER — Matt Chapman, one of the San Francisco Giants’ key regulars, is off to the worst start of his career. He’s as unhappy about that as anyone — more, probably — and he understands why fans are directing so much ire at him.
That doesn’t make it any easier, though. Chapman hears it at the ballpark, and he tries to avoid social media. He knows it’s rough stuff.
“Yeah, it’s bad,” Chapman told the Chronicle before Sunday’s game at Coors Field. “I got off social media, stopped looking at it — but it still seems like only the negative stuff finds you, right?
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“You should see my DMs. It’s people saying, ‘I hope your family dies.’ People threaten us all the time, I just block it and whatever, I don’t make a big deal about it, but it’s just not cool. I would never do that to anybody.”
A’s manager Mark Kotsay and Dodgers star Mookie Betts are among those who’ve spoken out about hate directed at players in the past month; relentless negativity can affect players’ psyches, and Kotsay said he tries to shield his players from that, something Chapman saw and said he appreciated.
“I thought it was great what he said,” Chapman said. “People can say what they want, it’s a free country, but they don’t know what goes on behind the scenes. They think we’re not playing well, we must show up an hour before the game and don’t prepare, but we’re here, we’re working hard, we want to win, we feel responsibility to win.
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“All I want to do is win and I know how bad our fans want to win. I want to do it for them and us, for all the right reasons, but this is the day and age where people feel like they get a voice to just spew negative stuff. I don’t think that people would say that to people’s faces — I’m not saying that in a confrontational way, but it takes the human element out of things. … It’s not going to ruin my day, but it doesn’t make me feel good.”
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The Giants’ 22-36 start has meant a lot of vitriol directed at most of the team’s major figures, but with the biggest bats getting off to the worst starts, and with Chapman taking the longest to come around, he’s been the top target. Fans frequently suggest the team get rid of him, something that’s not going to happen: Chapman, one of the top defensive third basemen of this century, is signed through 2030 and earns $25 million per season. He also has a full no-trade clause. He’s committed to the city and team, which has struggled to attract free-agent hitters.
“I think the thing that probably bummed me out the most is when people are calling for me to get pushed out of San Francisco,” he said. “Over the last two seasons, I feel like I’ve been one of the best third basemen in the game — if I didn’t get hurt last year, I feel like I was right on my way to repeating the year I had in 2024 and having a great season.
“It doesn’t feel good when you feel like people are so quick to turn your back on you.”
The other knock, which other slow starters such as Willy Adames and Rafael Devers also have heard, is that they’re not putting forth a full effort, or worse, don’t care.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. Baseball is a sport in which trying too hard usually is a killer, and when Chapman is really struggling, that’s often a major component.
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“That’s probably my best attribute and my worst attribute all at the same time — I really do care,” Chapman said. “I care about my teammates and I feel pride for the Giants and I feel loyal to them.
“I’ve always had ups and downs, but if I’m not playing well and we’re winning games, I don’t care, but if I’m not playing well and we’re losing games, I feel like s— about it, but it doesn’t mean that I’m just like sulking and don’t talk to anybody. I’m trying to help guys out. Something has to click, you know? I think continuing to be the same guy and showing up and posting up every day and weathering the storm is just as important as me trying to call a team meeting and do rah-rah because that stuff doesn’t always work.”
Chapman twice has won the Platinum Glove as the best overall defender in the game, and at 33, he is still among the top three or four third baseman in the majors, bringing tremendous value with his glove, especially for a team that has numerous groundball pitchers.
It’s his hitting that’s been the issue, and he does not dispute that. He was hitting .303 three weeks into the season, then the next 23 games were a nightmare. He hit .122 with .425 OPS and struck out 32 times and his hard-hit ball rate plunged, especially during a two-week stretch at the start of May in which he hit only one ball over 100 mph.
“I still find a way to contribute,” Chapman said. “I know how to play the game. My bat speed is still up, I’m running fast, I’ve been hitting balls hard lately. I still feel young and athletic. All signs point to good things. It’s coming.”
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In the past two weeks, things are on the upswing: Chapman is batting .286. He’s still not showing much power — he’s homered once all year — but he is one of the few players drawing walks, with seven in the past 12 games. He’s also hitting well with men in scoring position, with a .353 mark, second only to Luis Arraez’s .361.
“You look around the league and there are a lot of good players who are struggling and not playing up to how they probably think they should,” Chapman said. “The game is hard, and it’s a long season, and there’s still a lot of time for a lot of good stuff to happen.
“The people that really make decisions like Buster Posey and our owners and the staff, plus my teammates, I know they all count on me and they all believe in me and know who I am. That means more to me than any hate.”