Giants’ Casey Schmitt Undergoes Wrist Surgery, Spotlighting Team’s Second Base Dilemma
The Giants will be without infielder Casey Schmitt for the next couple of months after he underwent surgery to remove a carpal boss from his left wrist. The expected recovery timeline is eight to ten weeks, which means his availability for the start of spring training is now in question. Still, barring any setbacks, there’s optimism he’ll be ready to ramp up in time for Opening Day.
Schmitt’s injury comes at a time when San Francisco is already evaluating its options at second base - and for good reason. In 2025, Giants second basemen combined for a .217/.273/.343 slash line, a mark that ranked near the bottom of the league.
That 73 wRC+ tells the story: the group was 27% below league average at the plate. In a season where offense was hard to come by, second base was a clear weak spot.
Schmitt was one of four players who rotated through the position last season, alongside Tyler Fitzgerald, Christian Koss, and Brett Wisely. None of them managed to seize the job outright.
Schmitt, however, was the most consistent of the bunch. His .234/.305/.401 line wasn’t eye-popping, but it translated to a 98 wRC+ - just a tick below league average.
Over the past two seasons, he’s hit .241/.300/.420 with 18 homers across 461 plate appearances. Not flashy, but serviceable - especially for a player still finding his footing at the big league level.
Right now, Schmitt sits atop the Giants’ depth chart at second base. Fitzgerald and Koss remain in the organization, while Wisely was claimed by the Braves in September and remains on Atlanta’s 40-man roster.
There’s no clear-cut internal prospect ready to take over. Gavin Kilen, Josuar Gonzalez, and Jhonny Level are all middle infielders in the system, but none are expected to be MLB-ready by 2026.
That leaves the Giants in a familiar spot - looking outside the organization for answers. The club has been connected to possible upgrades at second base, and with Schmitt sidelined for the next two months, the urgency may only grow.
There’s a range of possibilities on the market, from proven veterans to intriguing buy-low candidates. Whether the Giants pursue a splashy move or a depth addition remains to be seen, but the need is clear.
Even if San Francisco does add another second baseman, that doesn’t necessarily push Schmitt out of the picture. He brings versatility to the table, with experience at second, shortstop, and third base.
He’s also a solid athlete with a strong arm, making him a viable utility option. Plus, he still has a minor league option remaining, giving the front office flexibility to stash him in Triple-A Sacramento if needed and call him up when the opportunity arises.
Schmitt remains under team control for at least four more seasons - potentially five, depending on how much time he spends in the minors during his final option year. So while this wrist surgery is a temporary setback, it doesn’t change the bigger picture: Schmitt is still very much part of the Giants’ plans. But as the offseason unfolds, the team’s actions at second base will say a lot about how they view his role moving forward.