During batting practice at Toronto’s Rogers Centre on a recent Friday, Kevin Gausman drew considerable attention from players and staff of the San Francisco Giants, showcasing the strong relationships he built in his previous seasons with the team. Known for his outgoing nature and respected presence within the Giants’ clubhouse during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Gausman was warmly greeted by many individuals, but none more enthusiastically than right-handed pitcher Logan Webb. Their bond exemplifies the importance of the Logan Webb Kevin Gausman mentorship in shaping Webb’s rise in <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>Major League Baseball.
Logan Webb Emerges as a Leading Starting Pitcher in MLB
Webb has developed into one of baseball’s most reliable and durable starters at age 28, consistently proving himself over the past few seasons. He will face the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, representing a matchup between two strong teams as the Blue Jays lead the AL East. Since the start of the 2021 campaign, Webb has pitched 887 innings, the most in <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB during that span. His 21.1 fWAR ranks just behind the Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, underscoring Webb’s status among the game’s elite pitchers.
A Pivotal Moment in Philadelphia Sparks a Career Shift
In April 2021, after a particularly difficult start in Philadelphia, Webb reached a breaking point. Struggling since his 2019 major league debut and doubting his future, he engaged in a revealing conversation with Gausman. During this interaction, Webb expressed his uncertainty about becoming more than an average pitcher.
“He kind of got mad at me,”
Webb remembers.
“He was just like, ‘You need to stop saying that. You got really good stuff. You got to just have more fun and enjoy it a little bit more. And I really took that to heart.”
Gausman viewed the conversation as an effort to help Webb overcome self-imposed pressure and rediscover the joy of playing the game.
“As a young pitcher, you’re trying to put your stamp on your career and who you’re going to be and all those things,”
Gausman explains.
[The conversation] was like, ‘Hey, remember why we started playing this game. We all started playing this because it was fun. Now we’re at this level where we put so much pressure on ourselves. Every pitch we throw is dissected, every outing is ripped apart. How can we get you to get out of your own way and just be loose out there?”
Reframing Mindset Leads to Improved Performance
Webb acknowledges that early in his MLB career, he adopted a serious demeanor as a pitcher, believing that intense focus and stoicism were necessary. This mentality was reinforced by veteran teammates, but over time it became draining for Webb. In contrast, Gausman’s approach to game days was less rigid, which Webb found refreshing and inspiring.
“Some guys still do things the old-school way,”
Webb says.
“When they show up to the field on start days, they have their headphones on, really locked in. Kevin wasn’t like that and he was the first veteran pitcher that I had known who wasn’t super serious the day he threw.”
“Don’t get me wrong, you get to a point where you got to lock in,”
he adds.
“But you can have a conversation with him, whereas with some guys, they don’t want to talk.”
This shift allowed Webb to focus on enjoying his craft more fully, appreciating small moments like locating a sinker perfectly at the bottom of the strike zone. The mental freedom Webb achieved mirrored in his on-field results almost immediately.
Rapid Turnaround and Consistent Success
Shortly after that April meeting and his rough outing in Philadelphia, Webb delivered seven scoreless innings against Miami. He sustained this momentum through the remainder of the season, finishing with a 2.86 ERA over 22 starts. This marked a turning point both in terms of confidence and performance.
Gausman closely observed Webb’s progress, particularly admiring his command of the sinker, a signature pitch for Webb. Their frequent practice sessions as catch partners highlighted the extraordinary precision Webb developed, with Gausman able to catch pitches in the same spot repeatedly without moving.
Baseball Savant’s advanced metrics confirm the sinker’s elite status, ranking it second-best in the game in 2024 based on Run Value, a respected performance measure. This further reflects how Webb’s pitch arsenal evolved alongside his growing composure and success.
The Human Side of Webb’s Transformation
Beyond the physical improvements, Gausman has taken pleasure in witnessing Webb’s more relaxed disposition on the mound. A stark difference from the past, Webb now often smiles and laughs with teammates during games, evidencing the healthy mindset that Gausman encouraged.
“When he’s just himself and free out there, he’s going to be able to do whatever he wants,”
Gausman observes.
“Now, when you watch him pitch, you’re going to see him laugh on the mound. You’re gonna see him look at his teammates and if they did something funny, he’s OK with cracking a smile on the field. He wasn’t like that before.”
Gausman continues to follow Webb’s outings closely, regularly checking boxscores and highlights. The mentor recognizes the remarkable journey and effort Webb undertook following their pivotal conversation, crediting his former teammate for fully realizing his vast potential.
“He took that conversation and just absolutely ran with it,”
says Gausman.
“I’m a huge fan of his because I’ve seen him turn into the pitcher that he is, but I also know him as a person. I can’t say enough good things about him and how much I enjoyed playing with him. I’m just ecstatic to see what he’s become.”
Looking Ahead: The Continuing Impact of a Mentorship
The relationship between Logan Webb and Kevin Gausman underscores the power of mentorship and mindset in professional sports. Webb’s transformation from a pitcher struggling with confidence to one of the game’s most formidable starters reflects how guidance combined with personal determination can dramatically shape an athlete’s career.
As Webb continues to face top opponents such as the Toronto Blue Jays, the lessons learned and confidence regained through the Logan Webb Kevin Gausman mentorship will likely remain a key factor in his ongoing success and durability on the mound.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Logan Webb legally blind?
A. In high school, he was the main quarterback during his junior and senior years. He is legally blind because he has astigmatism, which makes his vision blurry. This eye condition was noticed in elementary school when he struggled to see the ball clearly. He wore glasses until he was 11 or 12, which made playing football harder.
Q. Is Logan Webb a dad?
A. San Francisco’s Logan Webb is celebrating his first Father’s Day as a happy new dad! | Facebook.