SF Giants option a pair of young infielders, activate Nick Ahmed from injured list

The SF Giants welcomed back Nick Ahmed on Friday. Both Casey Schmitt and Marco Luciano were optioned to Triple-A, per the team's transaction log.

SF Giants option a pair of young infielders, activate Nick Ahmed from injured list

Ahmed began a rehab assignment earlier this month but he suffered a minor setback in his return from a wrist injury. That assignment was restarted earlier this week along with Marco Luciano.

Interestingly, Luciano saw time at second base during his brief rehab assignment. Perhaps, that could have been a function of going through the assignment with Ahmed. Ahmed is the superior defender, so it makes sense that he would see time at shortstop during a rehab assignment.

Ahmed served as the team's everyday shortstop before landing on the injured list. His role could be different going forward with Brett Wisely off to a nice start both with the glove and at the plate. That said, Giants manager Bob Melvin recently poured cold water over the idea of a strict platoon at shortstop.

Ahmed is slashing .236/.274/.291 (65 wRC+) with no home runs, 11 RBI, and nine runs in 119 plate appearances this season. It bears mentioning that anything he offers with the bat is a bonus.

The 11-year veteran is a glove-first option and was one of the better defensive shortstops in baseball before landing on the injured list. The Giants' defense at shortstop has taken a noticeable step back since in Ahmed's absence before Wisely was recalled in May.

Luciano impressed in his brief time at the plate, posting a .986 OPS in 27 plate appearances. However, he committed five errors in nine games, many of which came at key moments in the game. Getting optioned back to Triple-A gives him more time to continue getting reps whether it is at shortstop or second base.

Casey Schmitt will be joining Luciano in Sacramento. The right-handed bat struggled to a .628 OPS with two home runs in 42 plate appearances.

He saw time at both shortstop and third base but struggled at both positions. That said, Schmitt is a Minor League Gold Glove winner at third base, so his defensive miscues were likely a function of a small sample rather than a reflection of his overall body of work. It does feel like using him at shortstop does take away from his defensive prowess at the hot corner.