Casey Schmitt powered the San Francisco Giants to a 5-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. His two-run double in the eighth inning broke a 3-3 tie, driving in Thairo Estrada and Patrick Bailey. It was Schmitt's third game-winning RBI in July.
Schmitt has elevated his game significantly this season. He is hitting .278 with 11 home runs and 48 RBIs through 95 games — a sharp jump from the .206 average he posted in his rookie campaign.
The Giants sit at 52-49, holding the second Wild Card spot in the National League. Schmitt's consistent play at third base gives a postseason-chasing roster a reliable bat in the middle of the order — and reduces pressure on the front office to acquire a high-priced hitter at the trade deadline.
That front office pressure matters financially. Schmitt is earning $740,000 this season on a pre-arbitration deal. He becomes arbitration-eligible in 2027 and remains under team control through 2029. Every clutch hit and improved stat line adds millions to what San Francisco will eventually owe him — and what he'll be able to demand.
His defense holds up under scrutiny, too. Five errors in 95 games is a clean ledger for a third baseman carrying this kind of offensive load. With Schmitt locked in, the Giants can direct their resources toward pitching and bullpen depth rather than patching the infield.
