SF Giants prospects: 3B/SS Casey Schmitt wins Barney Nugent Award
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Young infielder Casey Schmitt won the 2023 Barney Nugent Award, given annually to the SF Giants player whose performance on and off the field "best exemplifies the San Francisco Giants spirit." The award is voted on by Giants coaches, players, and members of the training staff. Schmitt, who is the third-best prospect in the Giants system (click here for full scouting report), has been one of several standout prospects throughout spring training.
SF Giants third baseman Casey Schmitt tags Brewers shortstop Eddy Alvarez. (2023)
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft, Schmitt is coming off a breakout minor-league season. Already considered the best infield defender in the farm system, Schmitt hit .293/.365/.489 with 25 doubles and 21 home runs across three minor-league levels last season, including Triple-A. This spring, Schmitt picked up right where he left off, hitting .381/.395/.667 with a pair of doubles, triples, and homers in 43 plate appearances.
Schmitt now joins a list of previous winners that includes future All-Stars like Tim Lincecum and Brandon Belt, alongside career minor leaguers like Mark Minicozzi. Check out the complete list of winners for a trip down Giants memory lane:
All Harry K. Jordan/Barney Nugent Award winners:
2023: Casey Schmitt
2022: Brett Auerbach
2021: Heliot Ramos
2020: N/A
2019: Joey Bart
2018: Chris Shaw
2017: Jae-Gyun Hwang
2016: Trevor Brown
2015: Matt Duffy
2014: Mark Minicozzi
2013: Brock Bond
2012: Dan Otero
2011: Brandon Belt
2010: Darren Ford
2009: Joe Martinez
2008: Brian Bocock
2007: Tim Lincecum
2006: Derin McMains
2005: Scott Munter
2004: Brian Dallimore
2003: Jason Ellison
2002: Felix Escalona
2001: Pedro Feliz
2000: Ben Weber
1999: Damon Minor
1998: Russ Ortiz
1997: Dante Powell
1996: Marvin Bernard
1995: Joe Roselli
1994: J.R. Phillips
1993: Greg Brummett
1992: John Patterson
1991: Mark Leonard
1990: Eric Gunderson
1989: James Steel
1988: Joe Kmak/Francisco Melendez
Barring a late spring injury, Schmitt will start this season at Triple-A. However, Giant president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi told broadcasters on Thursday that he believes Schmitt is "very close" to big-league ready. So, his MLB debut could be right around the corner.
The award was originally named after former Giants trainer Harry K. Jordan but was renamed after Barney Nugent. Nugent was a trainer with the Giants from 1993-2003. Nugent had previously spent nearly two decades working in the minor leagues before finding a long-term home in San Francisco. The SF Giants renamed the award in his honor following Nugent's death in 2014 after an eight-month battle with cancer.
