Young SF Giants infielder undergoes wrist surgery, expected to be ready for 2026 season

Young SF Giants infielder Casey Schmitt’s spring training debut in 2026 might be delayed. He recently underwent wrist surgery with an expected recovery timeline of 8 - 10 weeks, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Young SF Giants infielder undergoes wrist surgery, expected to be ready for 2026 season

Pitchers and catchers report in approximately 10 weeks, which is right around the time Schmitt should be recovered, assuming no setbacks. Yes, it might be early December, but baseball season is getting closer with each passing day.

How do I know this? My mother has a countdown clock to Opening Day, and shares an update at least once a week. 

Schmitt was quietly a pleasant surprise in 2025. He began the season on the bench and saw sporadic playing time as a first baseman. Despite being new to the position, he did not look like a beginner and could develop into a top notch defender with practice and time.

However, the 26-year-old glove is better suited across the field. Third base is his primary position, and that is blocked by Matt Chapman for the foreseeable future. 

Schmitt has had to learn shortstop and second base on the fly, with the latter offering the clearest path to playing time. At times, he looked like a third baseman playing second base in 2025. 

However, Schmitt has a well above-average arm for the position. The range needs to show improvement for him to stick, but he made the routine plays last season.

In the batter’s box, the right-handed hitter slashed .237/.305/.401 (98 wRC+) with 12 home runs, 34 runs, and 40 RBI in 348 plate appearances. The expected stats, such as a  .259 expected batting average or a .429 slugging percentage, were a bit more promising. For the Giants, that could that could give them reason to be optimistic about his overall performance.

Schmitt flashed the power upside to hit 15 home runs with ease, with the potential of reaching 20 home runs. He will need to reach base at a higher rate to become a reliable, everyday player.

Second base feels more like a want than a need to upgrade this offseason. That said, the Giants have surveyed the market for upgrades. Brandon Lowe of the Tampa Bay Rays or Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals fit that description. If they cannot find an upgrade, Schmitt should be ready to go by Opening Day.