Casey Schmitt’s Hot May and Cold June
Photo by: Scott Strazzante (San Francisco Chronicle)
A steady stream of chants, “Casey! Casey! Casey!” flood an otherwise quiet shopping mall in Burlingame, California (a place about ~15 miles south of Oracle Park) on a cloudy Saturday evening. Schmitt acknowledges the eager Giants fans who gather in front of the memorabilia store to attend the signing with a gracious smile, one they hope to be accustomed to more and more in the years to come.
Photo by: Ray Chavez (San Jose Mercury News/Bay Area News Group)
Less than two months ago, Casey Schmitt was called up because Brandon Crawford was still working his way back from a right calf strain. Schmitt was the “first in flight” of the Giants’ 2020 draft class; the first to be called up to “The Show”. Debuting at shortstop against the Washington Nationals in early May, his first major league knock was a bomb to left-center field.
It was such a hit that the video clip and home run call became the Giants’ 5-second broadcast identification for the local station, NBC Sports Bay Area, shortly after that. His aggressive approach at the plate paid off, barrelling virtually anything in the strike zone. Schmitt put a charge into the Giants and thrived for the rest of the month, ending it with a sparkling .325 batting average and 16 RBIs.
Photo by: D. Ross Cameron (USA Today Sports)
Opposing teams figured out ways to combat Schmitt’s approach. By mid-June, it was clear he was in a slump, one that many a rookie endures over the course of the season. In his past 15 games, he has an average of .167, 3 RBIs, and 13 strikeouts. The bright spot is Schmitt has drawn four walks in the same span; somewhat an accomplishment for a guy who had one in the month of May. Baseball is about making adjustments and it applies on both sides of the ball; pitchers and hitters. It seems Schmitt is coming around a little bit in terms of plate discipline, but whether the hits come along may be a different story.
Photo by: Ash Ponders (Special to the San Francisco Chronicle)
Regardless of his performance at the plate, the glove has been a constant reminder of his value. Whether it’s dazzling with a leaping catch, charging a ball and making a throw on the run, or lighting up the radar gun like a pitcher with his feet set and behind a throw, last year’s Minor League Gold Glove winner has certainly shown off his smooth defensive skillset. It has earned him some time late in games as a defensive replacement despite his struggles at the plate in the last month.
Photo by: Joe Camporeale (USA Today Sports)
Schmitt has certainly captured the attention and love of Giants fans with his fun-loving, loose personality in the short amount of time he’s been up with the big league club. They’ll continue rooting for him to break out of his hitting slump, a delightful roar at Oracle Park to erupt whenever he makes his next major contribution to the Giants' offense.