Willy Adames wins Giants prestigious Willie Mac Award in first season with team

SAN FRANCISCO — The Willie Mac Award was created by former Giants owner Bob Lurie, who was horrified that McCovey was playing across the bay in Oakland and vowed to bring McCovey home. Three years after he returned, the Giants gave out the award for the first time, and there have been 44 winners over the past four-plus decades. For the first time, the Willie Mac Award winner is an actual Willy. Willy Adames is the 2025 winner of the award, given annually to the most inspirational Giant, as voted on by teammates, coaches, support staff and fans. Adames, a clubhouse leader through thick and thin, won in his first year with the Giants. The smile never left Adames’ face this season and he never stopped splashing teammates with Powerade or removing their helmets after homers, even when he was going through his own struggles. Adames was hitting under .200 through the season’s first month and had just five homers over his first 65 games as a Giant, but he kept the energy up throughout and eventually turned his own campaign around. “I’m truly honored to receive this Willie Mac Award. This means so much to me because it comes from my...