The Giants are making a major move.
Per NBC Sports Alex Pavlovic, San Francisco will promote its No. 4 overall prospect, infielder Casey Schmitt. They’ll designate Darin Ruf for assignment.
Schmitt comes in with a ton of promise for the Giants after an electric spring training and a standout campaign thus far with Triple-A Sacramento. He’s slashing .313/.410/.762 with one home run and 22 RBI this season.
Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper joined Murph and Mac on Tuesday morning to discuss the move, and offered cause for excitement.
“We had heard a week ago that they were thinking about it and he’s been playing really, really well,” Kuiper said. “He had a great spring. He was on everybody’s radar before spring training and then he added to his radar during spring and after spring and how he started this year in the minor leagues.”
His entrance comes with questions about how he’ll be utilized.
Schmitt stood out defensively at third last year, and has played both shortstop, and recently, second base. Kuiper thinks he could play everywhere.
“He’s a versatile kid,” Kuiper said. “He was voted the best defensive player in the minor leagues for the Giants and that was at third last year. They will not hesitate to play him some games at short. Thairo Estrada has done a great job at short, but do you want to wear this guy out?
“You might see Casey Schmitt a little bit at short and Estrada back at second. I know that Schmitt has been playing second base recently, so the options are there for Gabe and for Farhan and for the coaching staff, so we’ll see.”
He doesn’t think the Giants will wait around to give Schmitt a chance. Kuiper expects him to start on Tuesday.
“There is a lefty tonight, and if what Alex says is true — and I trust my life with Alex — he’ll be in the lineup tonight,” Kuiper said.
It will be interesting to see where Schmitt slots in with Brandon Crawford still recovering from a knee injury. He is expected back soon.
Listen to the full interview below. You can listen to every KNBR interview on our podcast page at knbr.com/podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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