SF Giants get promising injury update on young infielder

Veteran third baseman Matt Chapman was placed on the injured list on Friday. It looked like the SF Giants might lose Casey Schmitt as well after he took a pitch off the arm on Friday night, but the young infielder could return to game action soon.

SF Giants get promising injury update on young infielder

Bob Melvin told Shayna Rubin of The San Francisco Chronicle that Schmitt is feeling better today and could return to game action in the next couple of days.

Schmitt was visibly in pain after taking a pitch off his right forearm in the eighth inning of Friday's 7-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. He was immediately lifted for Tyler Fitzgerald, and headed straight to the tunnel in the Giants dugout. According to NBC Sports Bay Area, Schmitt did have an X-ray on the forearm, which came back negative.

The Chapman injury opens the door for Schmitt to return to his natural position - third base. Chapman originally went on the injured list in early June, which opened the door to playing time for Schmitt.

The 26-year-old infielder ran with that opportunity and has not looked back. While playing third base is likely out of the cards in the long run, there is plenty of playing time at second base. Schmitt is still relatively new to the position. The range might be a question mark, but he is a good athlete and has a stronger arm than most second basemen.

Schmitt has been one of the few bright spots, especially since the Giants have taken a nosedive lately in the standings. Overall, he is hitting .251/.324/.405 (109 wRC+) with seven home runs, 24 RBI, and 20 runs in 217 plate appearances.

Since June 10, the right-handed bat has slashed .276/.340/.462 (128 wRC+) in 159 plate appearances. Why June 10? That was the date that Chapman originally landed on the injured list with inflammation in his right hand.

Schmitt saw sporadic playing time earlier in the year, which is a tough role for any player, especially one accustomed to playing every day. The Giants used him primarily at first base, but shifted to second base when Tyler Fitzgerald hit a prolonged slump at the plate. Schmitt has made some strides in terms of controlling his chase rate, and he is making a lot of good contact, even when the hits are not finding holes. This has been a disappointing stretch for the Giants, but they get to breathe a sigh of relief that he Schmitt will not miss extended time.

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