Latest SF Giants injury paves the way to extended playing time for young infielder

The SF Giants were dealt a major blow on Tuesday, as Matt Chapman landed on the injured list with inflammation in his right hand. There is no way to replace his value on the roster, but it does pave the way for Casey Schmitt to get an extended look at the hot corner.

Latest SF Giants injury paves the way to extended playing time for young infielder

It sounds like Chapman is expected to miss some time with this injury. He is scheduled to see a specialist later this week, and is not expected to return when he is eligible in 10 days.

The Giants' lineup was already thin, and this injury news stretches them even thinner. That said, it does open up some at-bats for Schmitt.

The young infielder has seen the bulk of his playing time at first base this year. He has experience at all four infield positions, but third base is by far his best spot in the field. He has an excellent arm and good range. Schmitt even took home a Gold Glove Award in the minors a few years ago. While Chapman's defense is elite at third base, the drop-off in value may not be all that steep.

The glove has always been a strength since the Giants selected Schmitt in the second round of the 2020 draft out of San Diego State University. The bat is a bit behind his defense, and the Giants did not do his development any favors by calling him up prematurely in 2023.

Schmitt has spent the entire season on the Giants' roster, but there has been no avenue to consistent playing time. This injury does open up that avenue. Aside from Christian Koss, the Giants do not have a competent defender at third base.

That said, Schmitt has not necessarily performed in the sporadic playing time he has received. He is slashing just .180/.281/.240 (56 wRC+) with no home runs, three RBI, and two runs in 58 plate appearances. He will likely always be an aggressive hitter, but he has made some modest strides in terms of controlling the strike zone better.

While those numbers do not jump off the page, there have been some encouraging underlying trends. Schmitt has recorded a healthy average exit velocity of 89.2 MPH. Plus, he has an 8.8 percent barrel rate and a 33.3 percent line-drive rate. The expected numbers paint a better picture, such as a .263 expected batting average and a .382 expected slugging percentage.

Lastly, the right-handed bat pulls the ball in the air at a decent clip (17.6 percent). That is a key skill to allow his power to play. It does feel like the hits will start to fall for Schmitt if he sees consistent playing time. The process has not been bad, even if the results have not been good.

While the Giants do not want to see one of their best players go down in Matt Chapman, sports are often a war of attrition. The shift focuses to the next player up. For Schmitt, this should be his best opportunity this year to prove that he can be a major league player.