SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Casey Schmitt has a new number, new facial hair and, he hopes, a new nickname.
“I’m gonna go by ‘1-0’ now,” said Schmitt, a wisp of blond hair gracing his upper lip, referencing his new jersey number after his old one, No. 6, was taken by new manager Bob Melvin.
Will it add up to a fresh start for the San Francisco Giants’ slick-fielding infield prospect who burst into the big leagues last season but stumbled down the stretch?
That’s the hope for Schmitt, 24, who once looked like a candidate to start on the left side of the infield but enters this spring fighting to be the last reserve on the 26-man roster.
While Schmitt bookended his rookie season with fireworks, recording more total bases in his first three games than any player in Giants history, then homering twice against the Dodgers in the final game of the year, it wasn’t enough to obscure what transpired in between.
He was demoted, then promoted again, and finished the season batting .206 with a .579 OPS. Roving between his natural third base and two other infield positions for the first time, Schmitt’s calling card — his defense — also slipped, committing eight errors in 96 games.
“I’m not gonna sit here and make excuses. I could’ve definitely handled it better,” Schmitt said. “(Moving around) kind of made it tough on the defensive side, and I think that maybe affected the offensive side of the ball. It was something I’ve never really done before. It was just weird having to learn on the spot, pretty much. But I feel good about it now. So I’m just doing what I’ve gotta do and see what happens.”
The plan is continue moving Schmitt between third, second and shortstop, Melvin said.
After all, that is his clearest path to the major-league roster with Brandon Crawford’s vacated spot shortstop reserved for top prospect Marco Luciano and a pair of right-handed-hitting corner infielder ahead of him on the depth chart in J.D. Davis and Wilmer Flores.
With a year of experience at second and short under his belt, Schmitt said he is more comfortable handling utility duties this season. If he’s not up to the task, the team recently acquired Otto Lopez, a 25-year-old former Blue Jays top prospect who can play center field in addition to second and short.
“Of course I want to make the roster so I’m doing everything I can to stick,” Schmitt said.
The addition of third base coach Matt Williams, a four-time Gold Glove winner, could be a boon for Schmitt. Former teammates on the Giants in the late-’80s, Melvin hired Williams for the third time, after previously having him on his staffs in Oakland and San Diego.
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“Anybody’s going to do well with Matt,” Melvin said. “You speak to the guys in Oakland when he was there, the development of guys like Marcus Semien. A lot of it was Ron Washington, too, but between those two guys Marcus Semien made extreme strides. Matt Chapman cut his teeth with Matty over there. Matt Olson. Just terrific defenders. There’s a priority and a focus on it and there’s a commitment to it that (Williams) demands.
“So I think all these guys are going to be better for it.”
As for Schmitt’s sartorial changes, he didn’t have much choice in the matter.
Melvin got his digit of choice free of charge. He’s worn No. 6 in honor of Sal Bando since his first day as the A’s manager. The number held no meaning to Schmitt, who also didn’t exactly have any claim of seniority, either.
“Well,” Melvin cracked, “you know, it’s not like I’m taking Barry (Bonds)’s number.”