Giants’ Casey Schmitt continues historic start to MLB career

May 12, 2023, 8:50 AM

(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

Casey Schmitt’s incredible start to his Major League Baseball career has his name on lists with some of the greatest players to pick up a bat.

The 24-year-old went four-for-four during the San Francisco Giants’ 6-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night in a game that saw the infielder mash a mammoth 443-foot bomb into the second deck of Chase Field’s stands.

Schmitt’s two-run home run was his second over three appearances at the Major League level and the furthest home run hit by a Giants player this season–outside of the recent Mexico City series home run derby.

After being called up from AAA Sacramento on Tuesday, Schmitt has picked up eight hits, driven in four RBI, and scored five runs during his first three games. The only other player to do that in MLB history?

Joe DiMaggio.

Casey Schmitt is making big waves. 🌊

In his first 3 career games, he has 8 hits, 2 HR, 4 RBI, and 5 runs scored!

(MLB x @GoogleCloud) pic.twitter.com/UShyfcy963

— MLB (@MLB) May 12, 2023

“This is just amazing,” Schmitt said following Thursday’s win. “I’m just kind of taking it all in. I’m enjoying it. It’s a lot of fun.”

The Giants’ number-four prospect is making an impact early in his Major League career by providing San Francisco with an offensive punch that they had been searching for, as players like Thairo Estrada and LaMonte Wade Jr. could use another threat in the lineup.

“He’s almost single-handedly won us two games now,” starting pitcher Alex Cobb said of Schmitt after tossing 7.1 shutout innings on Thursday. “Obviously, we put some runs on later, but for a good chunk of that game, it was 2-0, and it was his runs that allowed me to go out and attack and protect the lead.

“His glove’s never been the question, so seeing him hit, you’re not sure what the hesitation was to bring him up. He looks the part. He acts like a big leaguer. There are certain guys that just fit in a clubhouse. When they put the uniform on, and they take at-bats, and they take the field, they look like they belong. He checks all those boxes.”

Schmitt’s historic start has him in the same breath as Giants legend and Hall of Fame member Willie McCovey, as the shortstop tied the outfielder with the most hits (eight) by a San Francisco player through his first three games.

The San Diego State product is also getting it done in the field, showing off his cannon of an arm on a 92.7 miles-per-hour assist during the fourth inning of Thursday’s game.

this Casey Schmitt throw was 92.7 mph

that’s the 2nd-fastest tracked infield assist in MLB this season (4/3 Oneil Cruz 92.8 mph)

AND

the 2nd-fastest tracked inf assist by a Giant under Statcast (2015) behind only his mentor Brandon Crawford (9/25/22, 92.8 mph) pic.twitter.com/GCb6b7g9f0

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 12, 2023

The San Francisco Giants have struggled to find stability in developing talent at the minor league level, but it appears they could have something special in Schmitt.