Schmitt has burst into big leagues
Amid the San Francisco Giants' long dry spell of homegrown talent, Casey Schmitt debuted this week carrying more excitement than just about any position player since Farhan Zaidi took over five years ago. A defensive whiz who figured out how to hit for power while climbing through three levels of the minor leagues last season, Schmitt made his longawaited arrival Tuesday night.
And, with a home run in his second at-bat and a pair of hits in each of his first two games, he's lived up to the hype.
So, with a nod to the No. 6 on his back, here are some things to know about the Giants' 24-year-old rookie, rated the organization's No. 3 pros- pect by Baseball America and No. 4 by MLB.com.
1. WHY HE'S BELOVED BY HIS TEAMMATES >>
This spring, Schmitt was voted the winner of the Barney Nugent Award, which like the regular-season Willie Mac Award holds its significance from the fact that it's voted on by their teammates. In addition to putting in the work and performing to put him in place to be called up six weeks into the regular season, Schmitt made quick inroads with his teammates.
“He's goofy,” said minor league teammate Tyler Fitzgerald. “He's almost the type of guy where you've got to tell him to shut up once in a while. He's just always talking. But in a good way.”
Schmitt, who once gave an interview while laying in a laundry cart, blends a goofball personality with a hard-striving work ethic.
“He has this way of celebrating in the dugout after a home run or something good,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “He puts his hands close to his body and he gives these light taps. Whereas everybody else comes into the dugout and it's these big slaps. Casey has this way about him, it's just different.”
2. WHO HE'S DRAWN COMPARISONS TO >> In spring training, Kapler compared Schmitt to Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford. While Schmitt's move to short was still in its infancy, Kapler said the 24-year-old exhibited the same mastery of “all the tricks” as the four-time Gold Glove winner.
“The backhand coming through the baseball, anytime he's going to his left, he can spin, he can maintain his body position and throw from those positions,” Kapler said. “Casey just does all of those things.”