Casey Schmitt’s – With Heliot Ramos sidelined by a quad strain, Casey Schmitt—one of the Giants’ most reliable hitters—made his first pro start in left field on Monday. The move keeps San Francisco’s lineup options open, shifts the designated hitter spot, and could finally crea
PHOENIX — Casey Schmitt didn’t just show up for Monday’s game. He was preparing for it on his phone.
When the San Francisco Giants infielder found out he was likely to play some outfield for the first time since his days at Eastlake High School in San Diego. he opened the Amazon app the moment the news landed. He needed a glove. Next-day delivery seemed like the answer—until he unwrapped the package and discovered the new leather was left-handed.
So he went back into the ordering applications again, hunting for the right fit on the fly. He ended up with a black Crocodile skin-style Rawlings glove. something he has broken in with a little bit of Aquaphor lip balm. Monday was when that glove came into use for real: Schmitt took the field as the Giants’ left fielder. earning his first major league start in left field.
“It was a little bit of familiarity,” Schmitt said. “It feels pretty OK. I wouldn’t say I’m a Gold Glover out there but it feels pretty doable, would be the word.”
For the Giants, the scramble wasn’t just about equipment. Schmitt’s name belongs in the middle of their lineup decisions. He’s been one of the team’s most consistent run-producers, and the numbers before Monday reflected that. Entering Monday, Schmitt led the team in home runs (eight), RBIs (21) and OPS (.875).
That’s why his versatility matters as much as his bat. Schmitt rose through the Giants’ minor league system as a third baseman. but Matt Chapman’s arrival in San Francisco had him moving around. He bought a middle infield glove, shifting to second base with shortstop reps sprinkled in. And when he was unexpectedly needed to play first base for the first time last year. he added another glove to the pile.
He estimates he has 15 gloves and mitts total, five he uses regularly. The Giants’ daily lineup now has to account for that flexibility—and for a team that is struggling to score.
Keeping Schmitt in the lineup has meant using him across roles this season. He played at first, second, third and designated hitter before his left field start on Monday.
But Monday wasn’t his first appearance in the outfield this time around. He trotted out to left field on Friday after Heliot Ramos went down with a quad strain during a game against the A’s. Schmitt’s left field work also isn’t expected to end quickly. Ramos’ 10-day injured list stint could last more than two weeks, Tony Vitello said.
Drew Gilbert is the more sure-handed defensive outfielder, and catcher Eric Haase played there on Sunday. Still, the opening left by Ramos can’t be ignored—and moving Schmitt to left field creates new options elsewhere.
One of those options is Bryce Eldridge.
Eldridge plays first or DH, but his path to playing time has been blocked. Rafael Devers has been getting the majority of playing time at first base. When Devers is designated hitter, Schmitt slides over to first. Otherwise, Schmitt has mostly been DHing—meaning Eldridge has been waiting on the margins.
Monday offered a shift. Schmitt’s move to left field opened the DH spot, and Eldridge got the nod against right-hander Zac Gallen.
For a Giants team “desperate to score more runs”—they are in the league’s cellar for most major offensive statistics—a lineup with Devers, Schmitt and Eldridge may be their best mix of power and presence.
Vitello pointed to what Eldridge can do when he’s in the lineup, and why even the stat sheet isn’t the whole story.
“A guy like that can just touch the ball and it’ll go over the fence or into the gap. ” Vitello said. “It changes things a little bit. So. again. even if there isn’t actual production or the stat sheet doesn’t look great. he can help us win by being a presence in the lineup and that’s only going to increase the more reps he gets.”.
Eldridge hasn’t been getting those reps in a way that fits his reputation as a top prospect. Before Monday. he had been slotted into the starting lineup seven times since May 5. and he had been quiet in those starts—going 2-for-24. including a home run. He had also been absent from the starting lineup in three of the Giants’ previous seven games.
Vitello described Eldridge’s attitude as a constant even when the opportunities haven’t come often.
“It’s a little bit of a puzzle to solve,” Vitello said. “But when you come to work every day and you have a guy that’s always got a smile on his face, and he’s willing to do whatever you ask, it makes it a lot easier.”
In the same week Schmitt’s right-to-left glove problem became a spotlight moment, the Giants are trying to turn a painful injury absence into a lineup advantage—one switch at a time.
Briefly: Right-hander Logan Webb, out with knee bursitis, will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday and is expected to start a rehab assignment this week.
San Francisco Giants Casey Schmitt Heliot Ramos Bryce Eldridge left field start quad strain Zac Gallen Logan Webb Tony Vitello