SF Giants’ (mis)handling of Bryce Eldridge has been a blessing in disguise

While the way the SF Giants have handled, many would say mishandled, top prospect Bryce Eldridge this season has drawn a lot of criticism, it has actually worked out to San Francisco’s benefit. Had the Giants given Eldridge a spot on the big league roster out of spring training, Casey Schmitt’s emergence likely would have never materialized.

Schmitt started the year as the team’s first baseman since Rafael Devers was limited to designated hitter duties out of caution for his hamstring injury. The San Diego State product pretty quickly became one of the hottest bats on the team and now he is a legitimate All-Star candidate even though he may get snubbed due to his lack of a set position.

After yet another team offensive explosion on Friday, Schmitt is hitting .293/.325/.559 with 15 home runs and 38 runs batted in. He’s already surpassed his previous career-high in home runs and as our own Jeff Young noted on social media, he has a shot to reach 30 homers on the year at this pace.

Not only that, but he’s been so consistent at the plate that the Giants have made him their leadoff hitter as of late. He’s an unorthodox choice since he doesn’t draw many walks and isn’t especially quick but why not give your best hitter a chance to get some extra at-bats?

They have even moved him to left field, a position he has hardly ever played in his career either in college or professionally, in order to make room for both him and Eldridge in the lineup. Our own Harry Barker-Fost noted on social media that on Thursday Schmitt became the first Giant in franchise history to play first base, second base, and left field in the same game which is a testament to both his versatility and willingness to play anywhere.

Casey Schmitt wouldn't have emerged unless Giants were slow with Eldridge

The irony is that if the Giants had Eldridge start the year as the team’s DH, as some snarky Giants fans on social media seemingly want them to have done, then Schmitt very easily could have rotted away on the bench and never gotten an opportunity to prove himself.

Schmitt always seemed like an odd fit for the Giants after Luis Arraez was signed to be the team’s second baseman. There was speculation he could be traded but he made sense as a utility guy who would be nice to have in case anyone got injured.

He got his chance and he ran with it. While this season has still gone pretty terribly for San Francisco, imagine how much worse it would be if Schmitt hadn’t broken out like this.

Now, the Giants have both Schmitt and a red-hot Eldridge in the lineup. The team scored 12 runs on Thursday and 18 runs on Friday so it’s hard not to be excited about the offense’s potential when it’s firing on all cylinders. 

The Giants deserve some criticism for the way they’ve handled Eldridge, but if they had listened to certain voices then Schmitt’s breakout season might not have ever happened.

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