Why Schmitt is learning to play first base

This story was excerpted from Maria Guardado’s Giants Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Casey Schmitt knew he’d have to get comfortable moving around the diamond after earning a spot on the Giants’ Opening Day roster as a backup infielder. But he wasn’t necessarily expecting his duties to include a crash course at first base.

A natural third baseman, Schmitt became adept at playing as a middle infielder following the arrival of Matt Chapman last season, but he’s now being asked to add first base to his plate to help fill a void left by the injury to Jerar Encarnacion.

With Encarnacion expected to miss eight weeks with a fractured left hand, the Giants have been leaning on the hot-hitting Wilmer Flores to serve as their primary designated hitter over the first week of the regular season. That’s created an opening for another right-handed hitter to slot in as LaMonte Wade Jr.’s platoon partner at first base.

Enter Schmitt, who made his first two Major League appearances at the position during the Giants’ three-game series at Houston earlier this week. The 26-year-old stayed in to play first base after pinch-hitting for Wade in the seventh inning on Tuesday and then got the start there against left-hander Framber Valdez on Wednesday, marking his first game action at the spot since summer ball in 2019.

“[It takes] a little bit of getting used to,” Schmitt said. “But I’ve always said it. I don’t care where I’m at, as long as I get to play.”

The move is a bit unusual for a glove-first player like Schmitt, but as of now, it represents the best path for him to get some playing time with the Giants. With Chapman and shortstop Willy Adames signed through the end of the decade, Schmitt will be blocked from his two best positions for the foreseeable future. He got plenty of looks at second base during Spring Training, but the Giants plan to give Tyler Fitzgerald the first crack at the starting job there this year.

Schmitt made his first couple of appearances at first base using a glove he borrowed from backup catcher Sam Huff, but he recently ordered his own and is looking forward to breaking it in over the coming weeks. He’s been taking grounders at first base before games to keep himself ready to step in when needed, though the Giants know there will inevitably be a bit of a learning curve when it comes to learning a new position on the fly.

“He’s handled it great,” manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s not going to look perfect. He’s playing a position he’s never played before. We can’t be knee-jerk. Spin is going to look different for him. A ball off a lefty bat is different than [one off] a righty’s bat. He’s having to get back to the bag, whereas over at third, you just field it and throw. There’s a lot being thrown at him right now, but he has the ability to be a good first baseman. It’s just going to take some time.”