Blake Snell’s journey from a talented but inconsistent starter to a postseason force for the Los Angeles Dodgers has taken a fascinating turn—and at the heart of his transformation stands an unlikely mentor: San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb. On October 16, 2025, Snell, now a Dodgers left-hander, publicly credited Webb and his brief stint with the Giants as the pivotal moment that changed his approach to pitching. The revelation came during a TNT Sports pregame show ahead of Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, where Snell has been nothing short of dominant.
Snell’s praise for Webb underscores the unpredictable ways baseball’s rivalries can shape careers. "Going to San Francisco, that’s where I learned how to pitch," Snell told a national audience. He went on to explain how Webb’s workmanlike approach—consistently pitching deep into games—became his template for success. According to Snell, Webb’s advice was simple but profound: "He’s like, 'Man, I’m just in the [strike] zone. You’re just not in the zone enough. You strike too many people out. You’ve got to get in the zone more. You’ll still get strikeouts, but get in the zone. And by doing that, you’re going to get six, seven, eight [innings]. You’re going to be able to go deeper in the game.'"
For Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, this change in mentality was overdue. Despite his electric stuff, he’d long been dogged by questions about his stamina and efficiency. The most infamous example came in Game 6 of the 2020 World Series, when he was controversially pulled in the sixth inning—a move that arguably cost the Tampa Bay Rays the championship. Even after joining the Giants for the 2024 season, Snell’s first half was rocky, and he’d never pitched into the ninth inning in his career. But everything shifted after Webb’s guidance. Snell rebounded in spectacular fashion, tossing his first career complete game no-hitter in August 2024 against Cincinnati.
After declining a player option with the Giants, Snell signed a five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers last November. The move drew headlines, not just for the price tag, but for its implications in the heated Dodgers-Giants rivalry. Ironically, the Giants’ own developmental culture—embodied by Webb—may have unlocked the best version of Snell for their archrivals.
The 2025 season brought new challenges for Snell. He missed significant time with shoulder inflammation in the first half of the year, raising doubts about his ability to deliver on the Dodgers’ investment. But since his return in August, Snell has been a model of efficiency and stamina, completing at least six innings in five of his last nine starts. The transformation has carried into October, where he’s been flat-out untouchable: three postseason starts, zero runs allowed, and a dazzling eight-inning scoreless outing against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the NLCS. In those three starts, Snell has averaged seven innings—a testament to the very approach Webb preached.
Meanwhile, Logan Webb’s own star continues to rise. On October 16, 2025, Major League Baseball announced the finalists for the prestigious Gold Glove Awards, and Webb was named among the top three National League pitchers for the first time in his career. His defensive prowess is no secret: Webb led all NL pitchers with a 2.9 SABR Defensive Index (SDI) as of August 10, 2025, excelling at fielding his position and holding runners on base. The Giants’ ace has also been a workhorse, leading the league in both innings pitched and strikeouts this season. His consistency and durability have made him a quiet anchor for San Francisco, and now, a potential Gold Glove winner.
Webb isn’t the only Giant earning defensive accolades this year. Catcher Patrick Bailey, a repeat Gold Glove finalist, led all catchers with a 12.1 SDI and topped the charts with 19 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 31 Fielding Run Value (FRV). Bailey, considered the best pitch framer in baseball, is poised for another trophy-laden offseason, with the Fielding Bible Award and even the Platinum Glove Award within reach. The Giants’ defensive excellence, highlighted by these two standouts, is a point of pride for the organization—even as the team faces on-field struggles.
The Gold Glove Award winners will be revealed on November 2, 2025, and both Bailey and Webb have strong cases built on hard data and peer recognition. For Webb, being recognized as a finalist for the first time is a testament to his all-around game. For Bailey, it’s a chance to cement his status as baseball’s premier defensive catcher.
But the story that’s capturing the imagination of fans on both sides of the rivalry is Snell’s evolution—and the Giants’ indirect hand in it. The Dodgers, known for their aggressive pursuit of top talent, may have struck gold not just in signing a proven ace, but in acquiring a pitcher whose mechanics and mindset were refined by their bitter rivals. As Snell continues his postseason tear, Giants fans are left to wonder what might have been if he’d stayed in San Francisco—or if Webb’s mentorship could have powered a Giants playoff run instead.
For now, Snell’s postseason dominance is a double-edged sword for the Giants. On one hand, it validates their reputation as a nurturing ground for pitching excellence. On the other, it stings to see a former player, armed with lessons learned in orange and black, leading the Dodgers’ charge toward another potential championship. The rivalry, already one of baseball’s fiercest, has found a new wrinkle—one that’s sure to linger in the minds of both fanbases for years to come.
As the National League Championship Series unfolds, all eyes are on Snell and the Dodgers. Will the lessons from Logan Webb carry Snell and his new team to the promised land? Only time will tell. One thing’s for sure: the impact of Webb’s mentorship—and the Giants’ developmental culture—will be felt long after the final out of 2025 is recorded.
