Don't be surprised if this SF Giants infielder takes over at 2nd base in 2025

The SF Giants got a pleasant surprise with the emergence of rookie Tyler Fitzgerald. However, he did cool down to end 2024 which could open the door for another young player in Casey Schmitt who finished the year hot. 

Fitzgerald got hot at the plate and eventually became the everyday shortstop for the team. However, he cooled off at the plate as the year wore on. After his barrage of home runs he went nearly a month without hitting one. His overall numbers were still respectable, hitting .280/.334/.497 for the year, but it is fair to wonder how he will fair next season and whether he will have a sophomore slump. 

Additionally, his defense at shortstop was not incredibly sharp. He made 11 errors at the position in 2024 which is understandable given that shortstop is not a position he is super comfortable with. Still, his defensive struggles mean that he is likely to slide over to second base next season especially if the Giants land a premier shortstop in the offseason. Second base has been a troublesome position for the Giants as of late.

While Fitzgerald would be the favorite to start at second base, he would still face some competition. One player who could make a case to be the starting second baseman in 2025 is Casey Schmitt.

Casey Schmitt could be starting second baseman for SF Giants in 2025

While Fitzgerald went cold at the plate to end the year, Schmitt got hot. He started to hit the ball well and even hit 6 home runs in just 107 at-bats. We know that he is a very aggressive hitter as evidenced by his low walk rate, but that is just part of his game. He can be aggressive but may need to be a little bit more selective if he wants to be a more consistent hitter. 

Defensively, Schmitt played well at second. His strong arm probably makes him a better fit at shortstop or third base, but with Matt Chapman locked up and the Giants likely to acquire a shortstop in the offseason those two positions will probably be closed off. 

Really, the only way that Schmitt can emerge as the everyday second baseman for the Giants is if he starts to hit. If Fitzgerald struggles to start next year while Schmitt takes advantage of his limited opportunities in the majors or starts the year in the minors and rakes, he could put some pressure on Fitzgerald. Also look out for the scrappy Brett Wisely as another candidate for second base duties.

We have seen Schmitt get hot at the plate before like when he was first called up in 2023. The problem is he has struggled to sustain it. If he is able to be more consistent at the plate next year and if Fitzgerald’s late struggles are foreshadowing of what is to come in 2025, then Schmitt could very well be the starting second baseman for much of 2025.