"Mookie Betts is the best hitter" - Giants ace calls Dodgers superstar toughest at-bat despite rough outing vs. Aaron Judge, Juan Soto at Oracle Park
San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb finished the 2024 MLB season with flying colors. The 28-year-old was sixth in NL Cy Young voting, made his first All-Star Game appearance and led all the majors in games started. In 33 starts, Webb posted a 13-10 win-loss record and a 3.47 ERA across 204.2 innings.
In The Chris Rose Rotation podcast in the JM Baseball channel, Webb was asked about his toughest adversary in the majors. The Giants ace named Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts as the hardest batter to hit in his major league career.
"Mookie Betts is the best hitter," Webb said in the podcast. ( 31:33-31:35)
"For me, he's probably the hardest guy (to face). I hate to admit that he knows it too—he said it in one of his podcasts." (31:25-31:30)
Per Stathead, Webb has faced Betts 30 times since 2020. The Dodgers star has made life difficult for him, as Betts own a .345/.367/.621 slash line with an OPS of .987 with two home runs, two RBIs, two doubles and a walk against Webb.
Chris Rose dubs Giants ace Logan Webb as the "Juan Soto stopper"
In the aforementioned podcast, Chris Rose also asked Logan Webb if Juan Soto is the best hitter he has ever faced. The Giants ace responded that it's a tough call even though he has had several battles with the right field star over the years.
"That's a hard question because I've actually done well against him until last year," Webb said. (30:25-30:32)
Rose blurted out that he's proud of interviewing the "Juan Soto stopper." Webb refuted the claim and said that Soto had a terrific year against him in 2024.
Webb had limited Soto to a .304 batting average surrendering just one home run and two doubles in 23 times they faced each other prior to this season. However, the shuffling outfielder was stellar in 2024 against Webb, as he had three base hits in six tries with a home run. Moreover, Webb also said that Aaron Judge caused him some trouble this year as well.
"This year did not go well. (Soto) and Aaron [Judge] did some damage against me in Oracle Park. But that doesn't mean I don't think that he isn't one of the best hitters I've ever faced. (31:05-31:17)
Soto has since moved to the New York Mets on a record 15-year, $765 million deal this offseason.