Giants call up top prospect Casey Schmitt

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SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants will get their first look at one of their most talented young prospects on Tuesday.

Infielder Casey Schmitt, who is ranked the club’s No. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is expected to make his Major League debut against the Nationals after being called up from Triple-A Sacramento.

Schmitt, 24, is a natural third baseman, but he could get the starting nod at shortstop against Washington left-hander Patrick Corbin, which would allow the Giants to shift Thairo Estrada back to second base while Brandon Crawford continues to work his way back from a right calf strain.

To clear a spot for Schmitt on the 40-man roster, the Giants reinstated Darin Ruf from the injured list and designated him for assignment. Outfielder Cal Stevenson was also optioned to Triple-A Sacramento following Monday’s game.

A second-round Draft pick out of San Diego State in 2020, Schmitt has long been viewed as one of the best defenders in the Giants organization. He won the Minor League Gold Glove Award at third base in 2022, though he also impressed after sliding over to play shortstop in place of fellow top prospect Marco Luciano, who missed a significant chunk of last season with a back injury.

While he’s primarily played on the left side of the infield, the Giants recently started giving Schmitt looks at second base, giving him an added degree of versatility as he prepares to join the big league roster for the first time.

“The theory here is more paths to the Major Leagues for young, developing prospects and more flexibility once they get to the Major Leagues,” manager Gabe Kapler said recently.

While his calling card is his glove, Schmitt has also shown encouraging development at the plate in recent years. A right-handed hitter, Schmitt batted .293 with an .854 OPS and 21 home runs over 126 games between High-A Eugene, Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento in 2022.

Schmitt, who won the 2023 Barney Nugent Award as the Giants’ top newcomer in big league camp this spring, hit .313 over his first 33 games with the River Cats this year and crushed his first Triple-A home run on Wednesday.

Schmitt’s arrival will likely have ramifications for David Villar, who has been relegated to more of a part-time role now that J.D. Davis has seized the starting job at third base. Villar, another right-handed bat, is hitting only .145 with four homers and 32 strikeouts over 95 plate appearances and hasn’t played in the club’s last four games.